THE INFLUX OF CHINESE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2453, 31 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE INFLUX OF CHINESE.

The following is the text of the note from the Chinese Ambassador in London, to Lord Salisbury, calling attention to the position of Chinese subjects in Her Majesty's colonies : — Chinese Legation, December 12, ISS7. Lew ta Jen to Lord Salisbury. My Lord, —The Chinese Commissioners who recently visited the Australian coloires, for the purpose of inquiring into the condition of the Chinese subjects residing in these parts of her British Majesty's dominions, report that in each of the colonies they visited a poll tax of £10 is imposed on Chinese subjects, from which the subjects of other Powers are exempt. I am also informed that at the pres'-nt moment a Bill which passed the I.l''iise of Assembly of Tasmania in September last is under the consideration of tho Legisla tive Council of that colony, having for its object, the imposition of a similar tax on all Chinese subjects who may hereafter visit, the island for the purpose of trade. In my despatch of the 13th .Inly, ISS6, I had occasion to draw the attention of your Lordship's predecessor to the invidious position in which Chinese subjects were placed by the operation of the peculiarly offensive Act which had been passed by the Government, of British Columbia. Having in that despatch very fully discussed the question of tho injustice of making Chinese subjects who, on the faith of treaties ami international usage, had entered the colony, tho objects of discriminative legislation, I need not here revert, to the matter, more especially as the Chinese Government is convinced that whore colonial Legislatures have enacted regulations inimical to the Chinese, and which were incompatible with her Majesty's international engagements, the omission of the Crown to exercise its riyht of vet™ is not to be taken as showing that, the central government approved of thorn. Iu a Crown colony it has not been found necessary to treat Chinese subjects different from tho subjects of other Powers, and it is difficult to understand why it should bo otherwise in those colonies in which a certain amount of sclfgovernmeut has been conferred. It has never been iillpsred that Chinese immigrants were unruly. Not only in Hongkong and the Straits settlements, but also in Australia, colonial governors have repeatedly borne testimony to the orderly conduct of the Chinese population, and their value iu developing 1 colonial resources. There does not, therefore, appear to be sufficient reason for their being deprived of the immunities accorded them by the treaties of nations, or of their being treated differently from the subjects of other Powers residing in the sumo parts of IT.B M's dominions. Tho Imperial Government sees with regret tho continued existence of exceptional and exceptionable laws which some colonial Legislatures in Australia and the Dominion of Canada havo at different times enacted as'ainst. tho Chinese subjects, and hopes that, with a view to tho elimination of any whioh may be found at variance with treaty obligations and international usage. Her Majesty's Government will be pleased to institute an enquiry into their nature, and how far they are compatible with the increasing growth of friendly relations which now happily exist between the two countries.—l am, &c., Lb\V. Marquis of Salisbury, IC G., &c.