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XIX
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Printed solely for the use of the Cabinet. February 15, 1858.
CONFIDENTIAL.
X / X
SIR,
Copy of a LETTER from Sir FREDERIC ROGERS to Mr. Secretary LABOUCHERE.
Emigration Office, February 13, 1858
I HAVE the honour to state, that I called yesterday on M. de Persigny, at his desire, and was informed by him of the result of his communica- tions with the French Government, respecting the terms on which coolie emigration should be carried on from India to the French Colonies.
2. Contrary to his expectations and opinion, the French Government retain the objection which was alluded to in Lord Cowley's recent despatch, as attaching to the proposed mode of collection. They consider that no arrangement can be satisfactory except one under which the English Government will take on itself the duty of collecting emigrants, and guarantee to the French Colonies a minimum annual supply of immigrants.
3. I stated to M. de Persigny my conviction that it was quite impos- sible that the British Government could make any promise of this kind; for the simple reason, that the coolies being free agents who were allowed to exercise and did in fact exercise-a choice as to their destination, it was impossible to know beforehand what emigration could be effected. I also explained that the proposed mode of collection was that practised in respect to English Colonies.
4. M. de Persigny stated that he was about to leave London for Paris, and would urge on his Government the reconsideration of this objection; but as the whole success of the negotiation appears at present to turn on this point, I think it best to bring it more fully under your notice than I have hitherto done, I will first, however, say that the French Government raise various objections of detail to the proposed Articles, but none which appear incapable of a satisfactory solution, if reasonably considered on both sides.
5. As to the proposed guarantee, I have not supposed it possible that the Indian Government would consent to give such a promise, and I feel confident that the Home Government could not give it with any certainty that it could be performed. The opening of an emigration to a new destination is always a difficulty, and perhaps especially so in India. It is affected injuriously by a variety of circumstances the plenty or scarcity of food and employment at home; the representations, true or false, made by recruiters for different Colonies; the variations in the terms of emigration, and probably many unaccountable fancies. At Calgutta, Mr. Caird, an experienced officer, steadily refuses to make promises, at least as regards West Indian emigration. A less experienced agent at Madras promised freely, but the emigration broke down in his hands; and it is observable, as tending to show that the difficulty of collection was real, that the natives who had contracted to supply emigrants, paid the agent a large penalty for their breach of contract." What numbers could be collected for a French Colony, where wages are lower than in Mauritius or British Guiana, and the country mgre completely unknown. must be a matter of mere speculation, on which the Home Government could not with honesty make a definite promise. I may add as a separate difficulty, that if such a pledge were made to the French Colonies, it would be difficult to refuse it to the English, who would certainly urge a
claim for it.
[13]
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
TTC.O.885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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