02
ន
61
sir,
BRITISH CONSULATE
APIA,
SAMOA.
120
13th September 1906
Referring to my communication of the 3rd in-
stant acknowledging the receipt of your despatch of the
24th July last, with its enclosure, I have the honour to
state as follows:-
The complaint of Cheng Wing, whose name was at-
tached to the placard posted in your Colony, contains
both truth and error.
It is not true that "more than two hundred men,
"whose term of three years has expired, were not allowed
"to return to China". In April 1903 the "Decima" brought
here from Swatow 282 Chinamen; in July last the "Holstein"
sailed for Hongkong, taking back 191 men of these. Of
the remainder, some have renewed their contract for
another three years, and some, the number is unknown
to me, have died.
As regards Cheng Wing's complaint that he will
not be allowed to remain in Samoa, and carry on business
after his three years contract has expired, the German
government has from the outset made it an express rule
that no coolie shall be allowed to remain here and
engage in business after their contract term is ended.
Respecting the food supplied them, there again
the complaint seems to be somewhat overstated.
As far as
I am able to learn the men are provided generally with
quite