THE ANTI-ASIATIC FEELING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 26

THE ANTI-ASIATIC FEELING.

«». LONDON, February 5. Lord Ampthill raised a debate in the Jlouse of Lords on the treatment accorded Ko the British Indians in the Transvaal. .He expressed his satisfaction with the Compromise arranged, though the Go\ eminent ought to ha\e secured a settlement before granting the Transvaal sell-govern-ment. .Lord Curzon said the settlement was |gb final from the sU'idgoiflts of the

Indians and the colonials, which were entiiely different. Two forces were pulling in opposite directions. " He urged that the restrictions ought to be as little vexatious and injurious as possible. | The educated higher classes of natives . ought not to be herded with men of lower ( degree. Lord Elgin said an honourable settlement had been arranged which was satisfactory to both parties. The Indians were excluded bj the colonies not on account of their bad qualities, but because of their good qualities of patient industry, frugality, and temperance, which made them such formidable, coju^etitors t<> the

white men. In the iutuie the Indian community in the Transvaal, though limited in numbers, would ocqupy a definite and honourable position. Lord Lansdowne said ±he Government might have bargained and made better terms. The subject then dropped. February 6. One thousand two hundred and ninetyfive aliens were excluded from Great Britain during the year ended March 31 at a cos>t of £13,000. February 10. Eeuter's Johannesburg correspondent states that ilr Jellicoe has advised ibtf

Asiatics to support the Constitution, but to be piompt in putting forward »heir grievances. NEW YORK, February 6. A convention of the Asiatic Exclusion League of the Pacific Coast States and British Columbia has begun at Seattle. Mr Young, on behalf of the American Federation of Labour, representing over two million working men, advocated Congress passing a law absolutely excluding the Japanese, who would otherwise control the Pacific Slope within 25 years. February 7. The Asiatic Exclusion Leagues at Seattle have adopted a memorial to Congress demanding the absolute exclusion ot Orientals from America. VANCOUVER, February 7. The British Columbia Assembly has unanimously passed its Immigration Restriction Bills. JOHANNESBURG, February 5. A large meeting held at Johannesburg inaugurated a boycott of Asiatic traders and employers of Asiatics. A White League was formed, and it was decided to establish committees throughout the Transvaal to obtain pledges to boycott.