Her diplomats had clearly defined
the role of the establishment of
Consulate offices in foreign countries was to provide protection of her
66
nationals abroad, but not to rule." But due to the lack of a clear
definition of jurisdictional power among various departments of foreign
affairs, foreign trade, and immigration, the lack of proper setting of
governmental machinery and proper training of foreign officers, and
furthermore, the lack of common understanding about the different
natures of rule and protection, it is predictable that ideas of rule and
protection were often confused by her diplomats.
Even worse was the conduct of Chinese social, political and
economic organizations with denaturalized Chinese in Southeast Asia in
general, and in the British colonies in particular. These organizations
were very active in handling Chinese communities on issues related to
protection and naturalization.
new
It is interesting to see that both the British and the Dutch had to
face a similar situation when they proposed to initiate a
nationality law which related to Chinese residents in their colonies.
67 The Dutch faced this problem in 1909, while the British faced it in
68
1948.
Four decades apart,
different
regimes of China, yet the
consequences were the same.
The British proposed a new nationality for Malaya and Singapore as
both were heading towards their independent status in the late 1940's.
With some spontaneity, and a bit of a push by Kuomintang diplomats, a
by local Chinese social-
organizations. In the protest, peaceful
large scale popular protest was organized
political and economic
demonstrations were held, and economic activities of all kinds were
stopped for one day's business to express anger felt by local Chinese. 69
Under such circumstances, tremendous pressure were generated within
the Chinese community, and the situation became very complicated. Some
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