HC Deb 20 June 1906 vol 159 cc167-8
MR. GOOCH (Bath)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the attention of the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been called to a translation of the Repatriation Proclamation, which has recently appeared, containing a coneluding sentence ordering the Chinese in threatening terms to tremble and obey; whether this sentence was actually posted in the compounds; and, if so, why it was omitted from the version read to the House.

MR. CHURCHILL

The version which I read to the House was that supplied to the Secretary of State by the High Commissioner before the notice was posted at the mines, and I need scarcely add that it was to the best of my belief a true and complete version in every respect. Inquiry will now be made upon both the translations from English into Chinese and back again from Chinese into English to ascertain whether they have gained anything in substance or style during either operation.

MR. VERNEY (Buckinghamshire, N.)

asked whether in the case of any further proclamation the translation would be made in this country by those who could be trusted, and whether the hon. Gentleman would take care that the authorised Chinese translation, and no other, would be used in future.

MR. CHURCHILL

The course we shall take with regard to any further proclamation must necessarily depend on the result of our inquiries into the first.

MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)

Is it not a fact that every Chinese authority in London who has been con- sulted differs in his version of the proclamation?

[No Answer was returned].