CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 507

C.O. 0427

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[19628]

No. 1.

218 JUN 09,

[May 25.]

SECTION 1. 555

}

1

Sir,

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received May 25.)

Downing Street, May 24, 1909.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you. for the information of Secretary Sir Edward Grey, copy of correspondence ou the subject of the restriction of Chinese immigration into Canada.

I am, &c.

(Signed) FRANCIS J. S. HOPWOOD.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency the Governor- General on April 27, 1909.

THE Committee of the Privy Council have bad under consideration a Con- fidential despatch, dated the 31st March, 1909, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, inclosing the paraphrase of a telegram from His Majesty's Ambassador at Peking, Sir J. Jordan, to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and a reply thereto, in reference to the negotiations now being conducted by Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King for the restriction of Chinese emigration to Canada. In his reply to Sir J. Jordan, the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs says that the Chinese Minister, in referring to the Japanese arrangement, says that the limit has been overstepped.

The Right Honourable the Prime Minister observes that, while it was feared during the first two or three months, after the arrangement was entered into by Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux with the Japanese Government, that the arrivals in Canada were to exceed the prescribed 400, and a warning to that effect was embodied in a minute of Council on the 17th August, 1908, and forwarded to Sir Claude Later immigration returns show Mac Donald, His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkio. that the number has been kept well within the mark for the six months ending the 31st March, 1900, the total arrivals in Canada being ninety-two.

The Committee, on the recommendation of the Right Honourable the Prime Minister, advise that a copy of this minute, if approved, be transmitted to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the information of His Majesty's Government.

All which is respectfully submitted for approval.

(Signed) F. K. BENNETTS,

Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Governor-General Earl Grey to the Earl of Crewe,

(Confidential.)

Government House, Ottawa, May 4, 1909. My Lord,

WITH reference to your Lordship's Confidential despatch of the 31st March last on the subject of the restriction of Chinese immigration into Canada, I have the honour to foward copy of a minute of the Privy Council, discussing the statement of the Chinese Minister that the limit imposed by the arrangement with Japan had been overstepped, and pointing out that, for the six months ended the 31st Mareb, 1909, the number of Japanese immigrants has been well within the prescribed limit.

I have, &c. (Signed) GREY.

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