THE CHINESE EDICT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 283, 21 July 1888, Page 5

THE CHINESE EDICT.

Tin, "Sydney Morning Herald ' save.; — During the la&fc two or three days a number j of the leading Chinese residents of Sydney have been interrogated as to the conclusion they have iormeel relative to the edict issued by the Imperial authorities of China, which, it is alleged, has been received at Auckland, New Zealand, requiring all Chinese to return to their own land within the next thiec years;. All the Chinese in Sydney who have been questioned on the subject have cxpiessed their disbelief in the story telegraphed from Kew Zealand. They have conic to the conclusion that if any such determination as thab embodied in the supposed edict had been arrived at, it would have been communicated to cithei Sydney or Melbourne — head-quartei& of the Chinese in Australia — and not to Auckland. Another reason for discrediting what has been telegraphed from Auckland is the existence in Sydney of several Chinese gentlemen who frequently correspond with gentlemen holding public positions in China, including the Consul, who accompanied the Chine?e Commissioner on hia recent tour through the colonies. Although some of the letters received from these officers are of very recent date, none of them, we are informed, contain the slightest indication of any action, such as that which is represented at Auckland, having been taken by the Imperial Chinese authorities In reference to the so-called Chinese edict, Mr Sew Hoy informed a Dunedin "Star" reporter that the report of the Chinese Commission that f^ome time ago visited Australia was forwarded to the Chinese in the colonies about two months since, and thai appended to the report were certain recommendations, one of which was to the effect that the Chinese forces by land and sea should be materially strengthened, so as to be able to cope with those of other nations— not for the purpose of offensive warfare, but strictly with the object of efficiently defending Chinese territory. In forwarding copies of this report the authorities expressed the hope that the Chinese residing abroad would subscribe towards the outlay to be incurred by the Chinese Government in this direction ; but no demand was made, and it was intimated that when tte money was required it would be left to the Chinese in the colonies tp contribute as they felt disposed. The circular contained jlO hint of war. Mr Sew Hoy added that cwing to the lecent interruption of trade he had received no home advices (or a month ; but that the Utest Hongkong paper to hand contained the information that Russia had appointed a Commission to visit China with the view of strengthening the good feeling which has latterly sprung up between these two countries, and that there were evidences on all sides of a desire on tho part of China and Ku&sia to shake hands and forget ail about btoir former enmities.