THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Bush Advocate, Volume I, Issue 16, 12 June 1888, Page 2

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

(By Cable.) London, June 8. The Earl of Carnarvon, in moving in the House of Lords for the production of papers in connection with the dispute between the Chinese and the Australian Government, said that the New South Wales Government had acted in great haste, and the Chinese Government had reason to complain of their countrymen being prevented from landing in Australia. The question, he thought was distinctly an Imperial one, and it would be prudent to consult China with reference to an adequate solution. Lord Knutsford promised to produce the papers after the Chinese conference have reported on their, deliberations. The Government, he mentioned, were anxious to prevent the colonies being swamped with Chinese. He had suggested to the conference measures of effective restriction which he believed would be beneficial, and as honorable a settlement as it was possible to make. The Earl of Derby considered the position was really one of wages, and it would be madness for England to interfere, as the colonists might disregard such interference. The Earl of Kimberley said it was imperative that England should maintain the friendship of China in view of the critical state of Eastern affairs. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr Henniker Heaton, Baron de Worms said that Ministers had fully considered the points on which the Government desired to effectively restrict the influx of Chinese in accordance with the general interests of the colonies and the Empire. He declined to say anything further pending the deliberations of the conference at Sydney. _