CO129-582-21 Emigration of Chinese to Paraguay 29-11-1939 - 27-2-1940 — Page 8

SAFE HAND

No. 47 (1/32E/1939) Copies sent to:-

Foreign Office No. 1181

Sir,

BRITISH EMBASSY,

SHANGHAI,

21st December, 1939.

8

With reference to your despatch No. EB 85 of the

2nd December, inviting my comments on your despatch of

the 29th November last to the Colonial Office regarding

an agreement for the recruitment of Chinese emigrants

for Paraguay, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency

that while I have no other information on the subject

I share your suspicions of the scheme as outlined in

your despatch. I feel sure, moreover, that the scheme

will not commend itself to the Chinese authorities.

I have the honour to be.

sir,

Your Excellency's obedient Servant,

(signed) ARCHIBALD CLARK KERR.

His Excellency

Sir Geoffry Northcote, K.C.M.G.,

etc., etc.. etc.,

Governor and Commander-in-Chief,

HONGKONG.

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MX. CONFIDENTIAL (2)

Sir,

RECEIVED

C

12 DEC 1939

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HỒNG KONG.

29th November, 1939.

I have the honour to enclose a copy of an agreement

between one Paul E. Williams as representative of the Compania

Internacional de Colonizacion of Buenos Aires and one Linson

Dzau relating to the emigration of Chinese to Paraguay.

2.

I am

From information supplied by the parties to this agreement it appears that the colonists are in fact Chinese labourers of a class unlikely to be in possession of the very considerable sums specified in the agreement. of the opinion, therefore, that the project is in effect either a disguised form of assisted emigration or at the worst a scheme whereby these emigrants will arrive in Paraguay indebted to some organisation to an extent which will oblige them to work for the Company for several years before they are in a position to repay. In either case I consider that further enquiry is necessary before any vessel

should be licensed for this traffic.

3.

I shall accordingly be glad if you will, should you think fit, request the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to cause enquiries to be made through His Majesty's representatives in Argentine and Paraguay regarding the status of the Company concerned and the conditions under which it is proposed that these emigrants should be employed.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&C.,

&C.,

&C.

age 9

age 9

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10

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4.

It is understood that legislation

is being introduced in Paraguay in connection

with this transaction.

be of interest.

5.

If so a copy would

A copy of this despatch is being

sent to His Majesty's Ambassador at Shanghai

for his information and comments.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

fas. halt on

Governor.

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