CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9] — Page 102

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Consul then agreed that the cost should be defrayed by the

Emigration Agent (as at Singapore), and the coolie should

be allowed to return in the ship which brought him (which

would be returning with time-expired men). The Attorney-

-General stated that this would not in his opinion satisfy

the law since the Emigration Agent was an irresponsible

merchant whose interest it was to avoid the loss caused by

the migrants' return. In Singapore an assisted emigrant

stated his wish to a Government Official, and there was an

absolute guarantee. The Consul then said that he was

authorized to speak in the name of the Samoan Government

and would give a guarantee in the name of that Government.

8.

On this understanding I would

•

have been willing to accede to his wishes in this particular

instance but I pointed out that there was also a political

aspect of the question which I was bound to consider.

Negotiations had been in progress between a high official

of the Samoan Government and the Chinese Authorities in

regard to this matter. These negotiations had not been so

far successful, and were still pending. It was now desired

that I should intervene, and enable them to engage Chinese

subjects from Swatow, "behind the back" so to speak of the

Chinese Government. This would of course seriously

préjudice