CO129-565-13 Recruitment of Chinese labourers for employment abroad 1-8-1937 - 30-3-1938 — Page 4

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le. in non-Chinese territory.

I don't think so. but fee has a right to

make representations.

m

ん

The lot Gout in the case If many chinca nationals (not being Bick, subals)

that we have any ground for requesting intervention in

this case. The particular rule in question seems to me

one entirely for the Chinese Government, and any

recruiter of labour for abroad would naturally be

required to conform to it. I do not see any reason

why the recruiter from Malayan Collieries should not

be required to do so in this particular instance.

rule moreover appears to me to be a very reasonable

one.

excepticon

The

The rules to which ajastinao may be taken

appear to me to be Nos. 10 and 11, which state that

in the case of any complications arising between the

[Chmane]

employer and the labourer, the Consul for China at

the locality shall be informed and requested to

adjudicate, and that either the Consul or the Overseas

Affairs Committee may appoint inspectors to visit the

place of work, and the employer shall receive them and

answer explicitly any questions put to him by the

inspectors. I do not see that Chinese legislation

could give representatives of a Chinese body any such

right to investigate in a foreign territory, and the

rule presumably has no legislative sanction. It

obviously cams, however, a fertile source of disputes,

but we can scarecely admit the right of a foreign

Consul to adjudicate in disputes between employer and

labourer, though I suggest that he has a right to be

x

consulted in questions affecting Chinese nationals.

? Write to F.0. pointing out as above, and

ask whether the S. of S. would be prepared to instruct

the British Consul at Swatow to make representations

to the Commission on Overseas Affairs. Copy letter to

Straits Settlements and Hong Kong l.ff.

P. Rages

3. N1.87,