THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FOR THE
REPEAL OF THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACTS. 7 £20
CHAIRMAN WILLIAM SHAW, Esq., M.A. VICE-CHAIRMAN: W. T. MALLESON, B.A. SECRETARY: FREDK. CHAS. BANKS
HON. ASSISTANT SECRETARY: FREDK. CHAS. BANKS,
BANKERS: BARCLAY, BEvan, & Co. 2, Westminster Chambers. London, S.W.
May
To the Right Honourable
The Earl of Derby,
1883.
Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies.
My Lord
"You ... at least those who do not sit in the House of Commons ... that the initiative in this matter rests. What you have to do is to convert the public, and to convert Parliament, and if you do that the rest will follow of itself."
We have the honour and satisfaction of calling Your Lordship's attention to the fact that just three days after you uttered those words the House of Commons by a majority of 72 adopted the resolution moved by the Right Honourable Mr. Stansfeld, viz.,
"That this House disapproves of the Compulsory ...
You were good enough to state to the deputation of Gentlemen, who waited upon you on 17th ult. relative to the Contagious Diseases Ordinance in force in Hong Kong, as follows:
"In this country, the members of the Government must take that general guidance and direction from the feelings of Parliament; what we have got to do is, not so much to convert me, as the majority of the House of Commons. And if you accomplish that purpose, if the result of the impending debate in the House of Commons is to abolish or greatly to modify the Acts which you dislike, then, not only in the Colonies and elsewhere, the policy which has ensued upon the passing of those Acts will have to be largely modified. But what I want to impress upon you, and I think your common sense will perceive it, is that it rests not with me, in the Colonial Office, or the Government — it rests with you, under examination."
Amongst those who voted in support of the Resolution, it will be found the names of sixteen Members and Officials of Her Majesty's Government as follows:
Mr. Arthur Asher Hon. Evelyn M. Ashley Rt. Hon. J. Chamberlain Rt. Hon. H.C.E. Childers L.H. Courtney
Solicitor General for Scotland Under Secretary for the Colonies
Rt. Hon. Sir C. Dilke, Bt. Rt. Hon. G. Dodson Herbert J. Gladstone Sir Farrer Herschell J. J. Hibbert John Holms
Lord Advocate President of the Board of Trade Chancellor of the Exchequer
Under Secretary for India President of the Local Government Board Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Lord of the Treasury Solicitor General Vice-President, Local Government Board
To the Right Honourable
The Earl of Derby
Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies
A Memorial
from Representatives of Organizations for the Abolition of the Contagious Diseases Acts
The Contagious Diseases Ordinance (1867) Hong Kong
April 17th 1883
Presented by deputation