THE CHINESE QUESTION

Temuka Leader, Issue 1740, 22 May 1888, Page 1

THE CHINESE QUESTION

Melbourne, May 18

The Chinese question occupies the chief place in the deliberations of the Cabinet. Mr Gillies considers the present legislation sufficiently broad to block any rush of Chinese immigration, and before taking further steps he prefers to await receipt of Lord Knutsford’a reply to the despatches forwarded by the Government of this colony and South Australia. May 19.

All the papers here severely criticise Bir Henry Parkes’ action against the Chinese. Sydney, May Id.

The Government intend to appeal against the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the case of the Chinese passengers detained on board the steamers Afghan and Tsinan, who will not be allowed to land pending the decision of the Appeal Court. The captains of the steamers named waited on Admiral Fairfax to-day and laid the matter before him. The Admiral replied that it was a question for the colonial Government to determine, and that he could do nothing at present. The same deputation will interview the Governor on the subject. The Chinese passengers detained on board (ho steamers express themselves as confident they will be allowed to land. Public feeling in the city is strongly excited and a large number of police are being held in readiness to quell any disturbance that may rise. Such of the detained Chinese passengers as are in possession of exemption certificates will be landed ot 3 o’clock to-morrow morning. May 19.

The Government have appointed a commission to make inquiries as to the amount of compensation which should be paid to tbe Chinese passengers who will be compelled to return to Tiong-Koog, as many will be destitute on their return. The Chinese who are in possession of proper papers, numbering forty, were landed without molestation this morning. Hobart, May 18.

Tasmania declines to take part in the conference ou the Chinese question, in consequence of the isolated action of the Premier of New South Wales,

London, May 17.

In the House of Commons to-day Sir Join Gnat, in reply to a questisn, stated that Lord Carrington, Governor of New South Wales, had not been instructed by the Imperial Government to veto tiie Chinese Restriction Act now under consideration of the New South Wales Legislature. May 18.

Sir James Fergnsson, replying to Mr Howard Vincent, said that Government were not at the present time prepared to disclose what progress had been made with the negotiations with China concerning the Australian difficulty. It is stated that China is not disposed to enter into negotiations with England for an amended treaty.

May 19.

In an article dealing with the Chinese difficulty in Australia, the Timas deprecates the action of the Government of New South Wales. It considers that the decision of the colonial Governments ought only to be adopted after due notice has bean given, and states that it would be a serious calamity should the colonies put themselves wrong at the outset, since the Marquis of Salisbury, and not Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, would be compellffd to justify the breaking of the treaty with China. The Times, however,* considers that England will be compelled to negotiate with China for a new treaty in the direction demanded by the colonies. The Economist thinks that the colonies have exaggerated the danger of an influx of Chinese,

The Times states that China will probably demand the payment of a heavy indemnity for the colonies not having permitted emigrants from there to land in Australia.

Hong-Kong, May 17

The Chinese imperial authorities are greatly irritated at the recent action of the Australian Giverniuents in attempting to exclude Chinese from the several colonies, believing such action is meant as a deliberate act to compel the British Government to propose the negotiation of a similar treaty to that recently concluded at Washington between the Government of the United States and China, It is argued that England cannot compel China to conform to such a treaty, owing to existing international obligations between the two countries, and that China could only be a party to such a treaty on a compensation basis. Taking America as a precedent, the Chinese Press cla'ms that all Chinese passengers now on their way to Australia should bo allowed’to land, having left this country under the moral protection of tbe existing laws, and that none should be detained or sent back until such time as a fair warning has been given that the Australian colonies are to be closed to the Chinese for the future.

New Yqbk, May 19,

The Chinese Minister resident in London has informed the special correspondent of the New York Herald that the decision of the New South Wales Government to refuse the Chinese passengers to land at Sydney was cruel and unjust. He believed that Sir Henry Parkes, the Premier of that colony, would soon discover that the act on inkeii by his Government was not tne way to gain any favors from Pekin, and that it would have been better had the Austndi m Governments adopted a conciliatory policy iu like manner to America.