HC Deb 22 February 1904 vol 130 cc557-8
DR. MACNAMARA

I beg to ask the Colonial Secretary a Question of which I have given private notice—namely, whether Mr. Perry and Mr. J. 6. Hamilton were on Saturday last, on behalf of the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, recruiting labour in Tientsin; whether the Ordinance has yet received the Royal Assent; and whether the right hon. Gentleman will order the recruiting to be stopped until the Ordinance and regulations in their complete operative form are before Parliament.

* MR. LYTTELTON

The hon. Member's Question was only handed in about five minutes ago, and then not in the form in which he now puts it. I am afraid I cannot give a complete answer, but I will answer so far as I can. I shall be greatly obliged if hon. Members interested in South Africa who wish for answers to Questions will be good enough to give me somewhat longer notice, as the telegraph communication with South Africa which is necessitated by Questions has been rendered rather difficult. With regard to the Question now put, I did see a paragraph to that effect in a morning paper, and I think it follows that if those gentlemen are now in China they must have gone there before the Labour Ordinance has been passed. The pledges which I gave on behalf of the Government in this House with regard to the appointment of a person responsible to the Government in China in order fully to explain any contract which Chinamen might enter into in China will be strictly adhered to, and manifestly until that gentleman is appointed no complete contract can possibly be made.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)

Is this person to be all over China or in some particular place?

* MR. LYTTELTON

He is to be in that place in which it is desirable he should be.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Has any definite settlement of this matter been come to with the Chinese Government?

* MR. LYTTELTON

No, Sir. I think hon. Members are in possession of certain requisitions made by the Chinese Government. We hold a conference, either to-morrow or the next day, with the Chinese Ambassador on the subject, and all expedition will be given to these matters, and no difficulty is expected.

MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)

Who is to interpret to the recruits in China—is it to be an Englishman understanding the Chinese language, or is the position of interpreter to be handed over to a Chinese mandarin?

* MR. LYTTELTON

The details are not arranged at the present time. I think the hon. Member may rely upon us to secure that sufficient precautions shall be taken to ensure that the contract is fully understood by the men.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

Is it you or Lord Milner?

* MR. LYTTELTON

I am responsible for the pledge I gave to this House.

MR. LOUGH

Will the right hon. Gentleman stop recruiting till he can put these regulations into force?

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Are we to understand that the details of this arrangement are left to the discretion of Lord Milner?

* MR. LYTTELTON

No, Sir, you may not understand that.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Well, I will understand it.