CO129-536-2 Recruitment of Chinese labourers for Samoa 26-5-1931 - 29-1-1932 — Page 18

W 12340/9736/52

November

17

Sir Miles Lampson,

K.C.M.G., C.B.,

Peking.

Sir,

I have had under consideration your

despatch No. 1098 of July 27th to my predecessor

in which you raise the question of the

recruiting in China of indentured, free and

assisted Chinese emigrants for work in British

possessions, with particular reference to the

complaint made by the Chinese authorities

against Messrs. Gibb, Livingston and Company of

Hongkong.

2.

In making their complaint against the

firm in question the Chinese authorities have,

I observe, invoked the migration Convention

of 1904, which, in m opinion, is inapplicable

in this instance for the following reason.

3.

If it had been the intention of the

parties to the Convent on that it should govern

all recruiting in China of Chinese labourers for

service in British possessions, it would be

difficult to defend its evasion by the adoption

of