1 70.9736/-/53
cony
J
3.9.
Corres relating
во
a
2
complant by the Chinese. Authorities with
li
regard
are
who
by the
large
numbers of
labourers
vcruited
and
subsequently
lar
rejected for work
Requesti obsons.
Samoa.
This has been delayed owing to difficulty
in collecting earlier papers.
A somewhat similar protest by the Chinese
authorities was made in 1924. See Dominions
56803/24 and connected papers up to 37882/25
in Dominions Office bundle herewith.
It was
then maintained that the practice of recruitment
of Chinese labour for Samoa was illegal and contrary
to the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 1904. It was
held here that the Convention did not apply, for
various reasons
-
see Mr. Price's Minute of the
7th of February, 1925 on 2493/25. The most
important point is that we contend that these
labourers are not indentured.
The same considera-
tions still apply, and I think we can take the line
that the Convention may be ignored.
is attached.
A copy of it
On this occasion the Chinese have also
criticised the management of the boarding houses
in which the intending emigrants are lodged while
They allege that excessive payments
in Hong Kong.
are demanded.
The Hong Kong authorities deny
that any payments at all are exacted from intending
emigrants