CO129-527-4 Outbreak between rival factions of Chinese employed by British Phosphate Commissioners on Nauru Island- reports... 21-4-1930 - 6-6-1930 — Page 4

COPY. V.S.

MEMORANDUM FOR:-

The Secretary,

J

ADMINISTRATION HEAD-QUARTERS,

Prime Minister's Department,

CANBERRA, F.C.T.

NAURU,

CENTRAL PACIFIC,

13th May, 1930.

CUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES ON 13TH APRIL 1930 BATWEEN RIVAL

FACTIONS OF CHINESE EMPLOYED BY THE BRITISH PHOSPHATE COMMISSIONERS.

In continuation of my reports dated 15th and 21st April

regarding the outbreak between rival factions of the Chinese engaged

by the British Phosphate Commissioners in mining the phosphate

deposits on this Island, I desire to state that nine Chinese were

charged at the Central Court of Nauru on 28th April with complicity

in the disturbance.

The desire on the part of a small coterie of Chinese

ruffians to introduce lawlessness to this Island was, fortunately,

regarded with complete disfavour by the well-behaved members of the

Chinese community who comprise a very large percentage of the

Chinese population. Several reputable Chinese who were eye-witnesses

of the encounter of 13th April came forward in a public spirited

manner and volunteered to give sworn testimony at the Court. The

evidence of these men was a main factor in the conviction of the

offenders.

While responsibility could not be fixed upon the person

who threw the explosive bomb which occasioned the death of F.C.Jacob

of the Nauru Regular Police, it was possible to secure positive

identification of those individuals who either threw bombs, or who

had bombs or explosive material in their possession, or who were

actively associated with the bomb-throwers.

During