HC Deb 15 June 1888 vol 327 cc253-6
MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he was in a position to give the House the substance of any cable messages received from Australia embodying the result of the Conference at Sydney on the Chinese question?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)

In answer to the hon. Member I will read to the House a telegram which has been received this morning from the Governor of New South Wales, reporting the result of the Conference held at Sydney. The telegram is as follows:— 14th June.—At the Australasian Conference held in Sydney on the 12th, 13th, and 14th instant, at which the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia were represented, the question of Chinese immigration, and your cablegram to the Governor of South Australia in connection therewith, were fully considered. The members of the Conference are sensible of the wish of Her Majesty's Government to meet the views of the Colonies, and have specially deliberated upon the possibility of securing legislation which, while effective, should be of a character so far as possible in accordance with the feeling and views of the Chinese Government. They have not overlooked the political and commercial interests of the Empire, nor the commercial interests of the Colonies. In 1886 the total exports to China from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania were valued at £16,000, out of a total export trade amounting to £38,700,000. Our imports from China in the same year were valued at £846,000. While the custom of the Colonies, therefore, is very valuable to China, that country offers no present outlet of importance for Australasian trade. There has never been any attempt on the part of any of the Colonies to close their markets to the imports of the Chinese Empire, although most if not all of them are now produced in great quantities in the British Empire of India. The suggestion that any restrictions which are to be imposed should be of a general nature, so as to give power to exclude European or American immigrants, has been very carefully deliberated upon, but no scheme for giving effect to it has been found practicable. As the length of time to be occupied in negotiations between the Imperial Government and the Government of China is uncertain, and as the Colonies, in the meantime, have reason to dread a large influx from China, the several Governments feel impelled to legislate immediately to protect their citizens against an invasion which is dreaded because of its results, not only upon the labour market, but upon the social and moral condition of the people. At the same time, the Conference is most anxious that Her Majesty's Government should enter into communication with the Government of China with a view to obtaining, as soon as possible, a Treaty under which all Chinese, except officials, travellers, merchants, students, and similar classes should be entirely excluded from the Australasian Colonies. By way of assisting to bring about such an understanding, the Conference has recommended the abolition of the poll tax now levied upon Chinese immigrants, While believing that the local legislation now proposed will accomplish its object, the Colonies would prefer that the exclusion of the Chinese should be brought about by international agreement of a friendly nature, as in the case of the United States. The Conference further desires that Her Majesty's Government should induce the Governments of the Crown Colonies of Hong Kong, Straits Settlements, and Labuan to at once prohibit the emigration of all Chinese to the Australasian Colonies, unless they should belong to the classes above mentioned. The Chinese who may claim to be considered British subjects in those Colonies are very numerous, and the certainty that their migration hither was prevented would give great and general satisfaction. The Resolutions arrived at by the Conference, and which have been embodied in a draft Bill, are as follows:—

  1. 1. That, in the opinion of this Conference, the further restriction of Chinese immigration is essential to the welfare of the people of Australasia.
  2. 2. That this Conference is of opinion that the desired restriction can best be secured through the diplomatic action of the Imperial Government and by uniform Australasian legislation.
  3. 3. That this Conference resolves to consider a joint representation to the Imperial Government for the purpose of obtaining the desired diplomatic action.
  4. 4. That this Conference is of opinion that the desired Australasian legislation should contain the following provisions:—
    1. (1.) That it shall apply to all Chinese, with specified exceptions.
    2. (2.) That the restriction should be by limitation of the number of Chinese which any vessel may bring into any Australian port to one passenger to every 500 tons of the ship's burthen.
    3. (3.) That the passage of Chinese from one Colony to another without consent of the Colony which they enter be made a misdemeanour.
The first and fourth Resolutions were indorsed by all the Colonies except Tasmania, who dissented, and Western Australia, who did not vote; while the second and third were carried unanimously. As a whole, therefore, they faithfully represent the opinion of the Parliaments and peoples of Australia. In conclusion, the Conference would call attention to the fact that the treatment of Chinese in the Australian Colonies has been invariably humane and considerate; and that, in spite of the intensity of popular feeling during the recent sudden influx, good order has been everywhere maintained. In so serious a crisis the Colonial Governments have felt called upon to take strong and decisive action to protect their peoples; but in so doing they have been studious of Imperial interests, of international obligations, and of their reputation as law-abiding communities. They now confidently rely upon the support and assistance of Her Majesty's Government in their endeavour to prevent their country from being overrun by an alien race, who are incapable of assimilation in the body politic, strangers to our civilization, out of sympathy with our aspirations, and unfitted for our free institutions, to which their presence in any number would be a source of constant danger.