January 26, 1903.
CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
qualities of the Chinese immigrant into foreign lands, he deplores the wholly dis- proportionate preponderance of males among them and the very small number of children, the regular remittance of large sums of money from the labourers' earnings to China, and the impermanence of the Chinese population generally. There are
REFORM IN CHINA.
(Daily Press, 22nd January.)
The chaotic state in which the "Reform movement in China is now is well illustrated by certain items of news which have been
(Daily Press, 20th January.) The subject of Chinese immigration is at the present day one of much interest in many widely separated parts of the world. The general tendency among governments of European origin seems now to be in ten males to oue female aud twenty-two | Published within the last few days. We
36
favour of checking such immigration entirely or of reducing it within the most narrow limits possible. In a certain number of British colonies, however, the influx of Chinese is not only not restricted but is even very strongly encouraged. In some German and French possessions, too, efforts are leing made to induce the Chinese labourer to settle temporarily at least. The arguments for and against the Chinese immigrant have been repented perhaps ad nauseam, but it will generally be found that, except in cases where he is discussing the question from a vague general point of view, based on other people's observations, the personal interests of the writer or speaker entirely colour his expressed opinion. Thus we get diametrically opposed attitudes toward the Chinese immigrant in British North Borneo, say, and on the Pacific Coast. In few places, perhaps, has the advent of the Chinese workman beeu attended with more successful results than in the Federatel Malay States. This fact gives additional interest to the remarks on the subject in a paper read recently before" the Colonial Institute by Mr. HoGH CLIFFORD, C.M.G., whose knowledge of what he is writing about none can dispute. The census of the Malay States was taken last in 1901, when the total number of inhabitants was found to be 678,595. Of these the Chinese amounted to 299,739- roughly 148,500 in Perak, 108,500 in Belangor, and 41,500 in the Negri Sembilan and Paliang.
Now, this," says Mr. CLIFFORD, is a fact with which those who "know the conditions of the Peninsula, nud those who above everything are anxious for the welfare of the Malays, need find "HO cause for quarrel." He continues: "In any country inhabited by a race which " is unable or unwilling to perform the work necessary to the well-being of the com- munity, the Chinese immigrant must be "welcomed with open arms, and it is not too much to say that but for him the success which has attended the work of British administration in the Peninsula could never have been achieved. He has "been from the beginning the muscle and "sinew of the community, and also, in no
""
54
Lo
CO
44
64
41
14
4
"
56
.
St
well
are not referring, we should perhaps say,
styled, but to the attitude of the Imperial to any actions of the Reform Party, as it is
Court at Peking toward the various innova tions which may be grouped together under that the Court contemplates making com- the name of reforms. We have just learned pulsory the wearing of European dress at
state ceremonies. We have also learned
But
adults to cne child under fifteen years Almost every Chinaman there has parents among the Chinese in the Malay States. or other aged people to whom he sends money annually, and he generally returna home when he has become successful. The Chinaman as a rule does not want to bring his wife or family to the Peninsula, women and children does not provide a so that state-aided immigration of Chinese remedy. Tre Malay States, therefore, have from a telegram appearing in our junior to face the fact that their Chinese popula of the Temple of Heaven milway station at evening contemporary that the demolition tion is one which has only an imperceptible Peking has been decreed and that the rails natural increase, that it is kept up or increases solely by excess of immigration over are being removed. Thus almost at the emigration, and that should anything occur
same moment we find the Chinese authori- to interfere with the supply of immigrants
ties proposing to introduce an unnecessary much of the commercial enterprise of the and unsuitable imitation of Western customs Peninsula would become paralysed. So
and taking the earliest opportunity of doing 'far," says Mr. CLIFFORD," the stream of away with an undoubted benefit conferred "Chinese immigration has flowed with
on Peking as a result of the Allied occupa- hardly an interruption, but as a set-off tion in 1900. We only mention these two "against it the counter-stream of China-instances of the Chinese official attitude at "men returning to their homes must be the moment, but our readers will no doubt "borne in mind, and it must further be be able to add many others. Now it is remembered that this counter-stream is impossible to regard even such small largely composed of those who have been matters as devoid of significance. On the "most successful in the Peninsula-the contrary, it is from such that we are justified "" men, in fact, who are most highly
in concluding that any hopes of China being "endowed, and whom it is most to our put on the path of true progress by her
fact that the British Government is power- "disadvantage to lose." In view of the present rulers is absolutely hopeless. A few trivial conformities to Western customs, less, from the circumstances of the case, to
uot in themselves of any advantage to control the emigration of the Chinese China, we see and shall doubtless continue settlers, and of the need of far more labour
to see increasingly as time goes on. in the Malay States Mr. CLIFFORD Counsels the feelings of the governing clique toward the looking to India for a far greater genuine reforms, which will affect the lives supply. This of course, it is
of the Chinese people for good, are ng known, has already been done, and hostile as ever they were before the flight great efforts have been made to induce from Peking. We have seen none of the Indian labourers to immigrate into the anticipated blessings which were to spring Peninsula-without much success, though from the return of the Court from the reasons of this are hard to explain. Mr.
Kaifeng-fu, with the Emperor restored CLIFFORD. holds that the Indian Govern- to his proper position, as we were told ment is partly to blame. The difficulties in he would be. As a matter of fact we hear the way, he says, must indeed be of an
less now of His Majesty KWANG HSU than insuperable character if they are sufficient perhaps over we did since he ascended the to prevent a Government such as that of throne. And as for his patriotic advisers, British India from even examining them who were to guide him to make a better with a view to their evasion, more especially attempt to reform his country than he did when a pressure so strong as that supplied before the celebrated coup d'état, they are by frequent famines would seem to urge the
not to be found in the precincts of the advisability of immediate and energetic Court. It is evident that it is very prema action. immigrant can compete with the Chinese; will not be made by Imperial edicts in the It is not claimed that the Indian ture yet to talk of the prospects of reform in China, and that the real progress but being an useful agricultural labourer and comparatively free from that love of first place. It is to the education of the speculation which lands the Chinaman to people by trade and railways and by a desert other employment for the chances of modicum of Western learning that the the mines, he will, it is hoped, be induced to
alteration must be brought. The few settle in the Malay Peninsula. The fact patriotic Viceroys recognise this, and have remains that at present he does not so settle, honourably distinguished themselves by man, the harder worker, comes and goes then a claim on the gratitude of those to any appreciable extent, and the China encouraging the introduction of foreign ideas, etc. That they have done so gives away again.
interested in the opening up of China, and it therefore behoves the Powers to recipro cate by honourable dealings with the Chinese. It cannot, unfortunately, be said that such conduct has been the general rule, and the honourable have to share the suspicion inspired by the rest. The history of the relations between China and the rest of the world has never been very creditable to either party. Yet if there is to be an "awakening" of Chinn, there must be upright dealings between her and her exploiters.
small degree, its brains as well. For every one commercial enterprise which owes its success to the initiative of the European in the Peninsula there are hundreds which have been organised, “financed, and managed entirely by China- men, and the Federated Malay States owe an incalculable debt to the courage, persis- tency and ability of their Chinese citizens.' Praise of the Chinese immigrant could the admission of the Chinese to the Philip hardly go further, and those who oppose pines would do well to listen to the words of one so experienced as Mr. CLIFFORD. Countries where the natives are willing and able to perform the work necessary to the well-being of the community, it will be noted, are not referred to by him, and therefore the cases of Australia, British Columbia, the United States, and the Rand are affected by the argument. It must not be imagined, however, that Mr. CLIFFORD regards the presence of the Chinese in Malaya under present conditions with un- mixed complacency. Like practically all who have previously admired the excellent'
The Privy Council of Great Britain has decided that British Columbia may refuse the franchiss to Japanese. Some time ago the collector of votes for the province, located in Vancouver, refused to enrol the name of a Japanese who applied. The County Court and Supreme Court Justices upheld the appeal of the Japanese, and also the Supreme Court of Canada. The Privy Council has, however, reversed all these orders and given the province the right for which it has contended. Geueral satisfaction is expressed at the decision in British Columbia.
***
すす