CO885-(1-2) — Page 294

Miscellanes

A XIV

CONFIDENTIAL.

Memorandum on the Proposed Emigration of

Labourers from the East to the West Indies.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

885

1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO |

No. 284.

THE opinion of the Government of India having been requested in November last on the question of permitting the Emigration of Coolies to the West Indies has lately been received. Printed for Par- The result appears to be, that while pointing out some diffi- liament. culties and some distinctions from the case of Mauritius, for which they leave the Secretary of State to provide appropriate measures, the Governor-General and Council see no objection to the pro- posed measure.

Lord Stanley communicated this despatch to the West India body, and after explaining the principal questions to be settled, invited them to state what course of proceeding they would propose.

;

They have made their proposals in a paper which is annexed; and after carefully considering them, Lord Stanley is disposed to recommend that they should be assented to with some modifica. tion, which will be embodied in the following review of the scheme. The principle of the plan is that it shall be entirely conducted by public officers, who shall both provide for the collection of the Emigrants, and also take up ships for their conveyance on the best terms that may be practicable, but not to exceed a certain max- imum rate per head.

The necessary measures will be:-

1. An amendment of the Indian Acts by which Emigration from India to all places except Mauritius is prohibited. Emigra- tion to be henceforward lawful from such one or more of the Ports of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, as may have resident Emigra- tion Agents at them sanctioned by the Governor-General, to such places as those Agents may by the Governor-General be autho- rized to act for. No Emigration, except that effected by the regular Agents, nor except in ships licensed by the Government.

It is expected that in practice the Emigration will in the first instance be confined to Calcutta and Madras, or possibly to Calcutta alone.

2. The appointment by the Governor-General of an officer at cach port, to be styled the Protector of Indians. The duty of this officer will be to see that the regulations for this service are carried into effect. He will see that the ships selected by the Agent are of a description to warrant his granting his certificate, without which no bounty will be payable. He will visit the ship imme- diately previous to its departure, and in the presence of the Agent he will ascertain that the Emigrants have embarked voluntarily,

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