CO129-137 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [4-5] — Page 160

157

the

be always maintained here over proceedings of third parties who may in any way assist to procure emigrants,

H.

inclose copy of the minute which I wrote on Your Lordship's despatch when received, and I have

I have really little to add new to the impressions which I

embodied in that minute, and the latter

is moreover

corroborated

almost completely by the opinions of both Mr. Austin and Mr. Sampson (the Emigration Agent at Canton) to whom I referred Your Lordship's despatch. I now transmit those opinions

annexed to

my

enclosed minute.

5. I much regret that I am unable to

hold out

any

more favourable prospect of a properly conducted and successful Emigration hence to the West Indies, because it

would be impossible to carry it out unless by employment of Chinese Agents on the Mainland, and it is not to be supposed that Her Majesty's Government would countenance either openly or indirectly

so notorious a breach of Chinese Laws so long as the Chinese Government insists on Foreigners in China acting in strict

conformity with the terms of the Convention of 1866.

6. Under these circumstances I believe that the only reasonable expectation of reviving a legitimate Emigration to the West Indies must depend on acceptance by the Chinese of some modification of that Convention, such as the Emigrants

157

the be always maintained here over proceedings of third parties who may in any way assist to procure emigrants,

H. inclose copy of the minute which I wrote on Your Lordship's despatch when received, and I have

I have really little to add new to the impressions which I embodied in that minute, and the latter is moreover corroborated almost completely by the opinions of both Mr. Austin and Mr. Sampson (the Emigration Agent at Canton) to whom I referred Your Lordship's despatch. I now transmit those opinions annexed to my enclosed minute.

5. I much regret that I am unable to hold out any more favourable prospect of a properly conducted and successful Emigration hence to the West Indies, because it would be impossible to carry it out unless by employment of Chinese Agents on the Mainland, and it is not to be supposed that Her Majesty's Government would countenance either openly or indirectly so notorious a breach of Chinese Laws so long as the Chinese Government insists on Foreigners in China acting in strict conformity with the terms of the Convention of 1866.

6. Under these circumstances I believe that the only reasonable expectation of reviving a legitimate Emigration to the West Indies must depend on acceptance by the Chinese of some modification of that Convention, such as the Emigrants

157

the be always maintained here over proceedings of third parties who may in any way assist to procure emigrants,

H. inclose copy of the minute which I wrote on Your Lordship's despatch when received, and I have

I have really little to add new to the impressions which I embodied in that minute, and the latter is moreover corroborated almost completely by the opinions of both Mr. Austin and Mr. Sampson (the Emigration Agent at Canton) to whom I referred Your Lordship's despatch. I now transmit those opinions annexed to my enclosed minute.

5. I much regret that I am unable to hold out any more favourable prospect of a properly conducted and successful Emigration hence to the West Indies, because it would be impossible to carry it out unless by employment of Chinese Agents on the Mainland, and it is not to be supposed that Her Majesty's Government would countenance either openly or indirectly so notorious a breach of Chinese Laws so long as the Chinese Government insists on Foreigners in China acting in strict conformity with the terms of the Convention of 1866.

6. Under these circumstances I believe that the only reasonable expectation of reviving a legitimate Emigration to the West Indies must depend on acceptance by the Chinese of some modification of that Convention, such as the Emigrants