4
important reservations described in Enclosure
2.
The following considerations arise:-
(1) In view of the fact that we have
as a matter of policy abolished indentured
labour in the Far East, it would seem unwise,
even though the supply now required is for
the Sarawak Government and not a private
Company, to lay ourselves open to the charge
of facilitating recruitment of labour which
is tantamount to a system of indenture.
(2) The Governor suggests that the
acceptance of these proposals is less open
to objection in that emigration on similar
terms is already permitted to certain places
in the South Seas and elsewhere.
It seems
clear, however, that a distinction must be
drawn between direct and indirect recruitment.
In the present instance it is proposed that
the labour as recruited, instead of being sent
direct to Sarawak, should be sent under the
control of Agents to Singapore and passed on
from there, after a medical examination, to
Sarawak. This procedure naturally gives
rise to serious considerations which are not
present when labourers are despatched direct
to the country requiring them, see paras 3
and 4 of enclosure 2.
-
The fact, therefore
that direct emigration is permitted to certain
places is no argument for extending emigration
in the indirect manner now suggested.
(3) Under this procedure, unless some
very definite arrangement was made, either with
Hong