CO129-536-2 Recruitment of Chinese labourers for Samoa 26-5-1931 - 29-1-1932 — Page 13

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applicable to cases where there is no "indenture', which,

presumably, moana a written contract embodying the

conditions under which the emigrants are transported to

and from their destination and under which they serve

while they are thers.

4. It does not appear to be disputed that in this

particular case there are no contracts at all and if this

is the case, it is not necessary, in my opinion, to purBUS

the point raised in 1928 (see His ajesty's Consul General

at Canton's despatch No.39 of June 11th, 1925, a copy of

which was enclosed in fr. alairac's despatch No.441 of

June 27th 1925) as to whether po

le advanoes

amounted to a form of indentured labour

5. If this is so, the question resolves itself into

whether tMars is any substanes In the Chiasse doyurament

allegations as to the hardships suffered by prospective

amigrants. On this point I transmit to you herewith, for

your information, a copy of a letter, with anclosures,

which I have reavivad from the Colonial fries.

fries, You will

observe that the Jovernor of Hongkong is being asked whether

he considers that the powers of his

verament in this

rerard could usefully be strengthened in any way.

I shall be glad if you will communicate the substance

of this despatch to His Majesty's Consul Generel at Canton,

for his information, instructing him not to reply, in the

meantime to the letter of April 18th from the Mayor of

Canton, ending the rossipt by the Colonial offies of

vernor of hongkong, to

whom

fur ther

rvations from the