359
Delegate advises me that of the 9 sick persons lodged in the barracks with an attack of the mumps, 5 had been set at liberty. One of these was the second-class passenger who was allowed to depart after his place of residence had been noted, notwithstanding the fact that he was seriously affected with trachoma. The four remaining persons were re-embarked on board the "Suisang" as confirmed cases of trachoma. Thus the total number of rejected trachomatous persons amounts at the present to 403, plus the 14 belonging to the Steamer "Marie" making a grand total of 417.
As the Board was in some doubt as to whether the four persons suffering from trachoma who were last embarked were second-class passengers or not, an enquiry was sent to the Delegate, who replied that they were not second-class passengers, but immigrants (Nos. 16 and 18). As will be observed, the utmost care was taken to reject no immigrants who were not plainly diseased.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the steamer "Suisang" should have left the Port as soon as the separation of the healthy passengers from those who were to be rejected on account of disease had taken place; at this point, the mission of the Mexican Authorities should terminate. The detention that this steamer has suffered has been occasioned by the insistence of the China Commercial Steamship Company's Representative, who constantly requested that fresh visits of inspection should be made, as is shown by telegram No. 23, which states:
"I have the honour to inform you that we this day re-visited the 417 Chinese immigrants who were rejected on account of suffering from trachoma, and were re-embarked on board the 'Suisang'; and found that they were all of them afflicted with the said disease".
I have wished to reproduce the whole of this telegram in order that the Ministry of the Interior may convince themselves that so often as the China Company's Agent requested that the passengers should be re-visited, this was done; but more especially because it is expressly stated in the telegram that the visit was made by both Delegates. This is the occasion on which to emphasise the fact that all the visits, commencing
359
Delegate advises me that of the 9 sick persons lodged in
the barracks with an attack of the mumps, 5 had been
set at liberty. One of these was the second class pas-
senger who was allowed to depart after his place of resi-
dence had been noted, notwithstanding the fact that he
was seriously affected with trachoma. The four remain-
ing persons were re-embarked on board the "Suisang" as
confirmed cases of trachoma. Thus the total number of
rejected trachomatous persons amounts at the present to
403, plus the 14 belonging to the Steamer "Marie" making
a grand total of 417.
As the Board was in some doubt as to whether the
four persons suffering from trachoma who were last em-
barked were second class passengers or not, an enquiry
was sent to the Delegate, who replied that they were
not second class passengers, but immigrants (Nos.16
and 18): As will be observed, the utmost care was taken
to reject no immigrants who were not plainly diseased.
er
From the foregoing it will be seen that the steam-
"Suisang" should have left the Port as soon as the
separation of the healthy passengers from those who
were to be rejected on account of disease, had taken
place
place; at this point the mission of the Mexican Au-
thorities should terminate. The detention that this
steamer has suffered has been occasioned by the insis-
tence of the China Commercial Steamship Company's
Representative who constantly requested that fresh
visits of inspection should be made as is shown by tele-
gram No.23 which states:
"I have the honour to inform you that we this day
re-visited the 417 Chinese immigrants who were reject-
ed on account of suffering from trachoma, and were re-
embarked on board the "Suisang"; and found that they
were all of them afflicted with the said disease".
I have wished to reproduce the whole of this tele-
gram in order that the Ministry of the Interior may
convince themselves that so often as the China Com-
pany's Agent requested that the passengers should be
re-visited, this was done; but more especially because
it is expressly stated in the telegram that the visit
was made by both Delegates. This is the occasion on
which to emphasise the fact that all the visits, com-
mencing
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