}
A.
B.
Gov.28544/25 H.K./Sarawak.
Sir G. Grindle
243
I discussed this with Mr. Finn and as we did
not agree, it was arranged to keep the paper for your
consideration. Since your return I have been
prevented by pressure of work from carrying out the
necessary researches.
I had recollections of the HongKong Government,
with the approval of the Secretary of State, having
assisted other Colonial Governments and private
companies) to recruit Chinese Coolies.
The Sarawak Government has shown itself quite
ready to revise conditions of service to which
objection has been taken.
It seemed to me therefore that to take up the attitude suggested by Mr. Finn (viz. that, even
apart from the question of indentured labour, it would
be impossible for the Secretary of State to agree to
the HongKong Government assisting the Sarawak Government
to obtain recruits for their coal mines) would be
to exercise an unnecessarily unfriendly discrimination
against Sarawak.
As regards A see now
(1) Gov.32857/23 RH,and pp. on which the decision
to refuse permission to assist the recruitment of
Chinese labour for the New Hebrides and New Caledonia
was based solely on the grounds that it would not be
acceptable to the Commonwealth Government.
(2) F.0.2493/25 and Gov./13322/25.Doms. from which
it will be seen that Chinese labourers are being
recruited for Western Sacoa and Nauru by the joint
agent of the British Phosphate Commission and the
Western Samoan Administration, with the knowledge and
under the supervision of the HongKong Government.
1
(3)