THE CHINESE EDICT.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 167, 17 July 1888, Page 6

THE CHINESE EDICT.

The "Sydney Morning Herald" says: — During the last two or three days a number of the leading Chinese residents of Sydney have been interrogated as to tho conclusion they have formed relative to the _ edict issued by the Imperial authorities of China, which, it is alleged, has been received at Auckland, New Zealand, requiring all Chinese to return to their own Tand within tho next'three years. All the Chinese in Sydney who have been questioned on the subject have expressed their disbelief in the story telegraphed from New Zealand. They have come to tho conclusion that if any such determination as that embodied in the supposed edict had bcon arrived at. it would have been communicated to either Sydney or Melbourne— head-quarters of the Chinese in Australia— and not to Auckland. Another reason for discrediting what has Wen telegraphed from Auckland is tho existence in Sydney of several Chinese gentlemen who frequently correspond with gentlemen holding public positions in China, including the Consul, who accompanied tho Chinore Commissioner on hia recent tour through tho colonies. Although sonic of the letters received from these officers are of very recent date, none of them, u-e are informed, contain the slightest indication of any action,- such as that which is represented at Auckland, having been taken by Lhe Imperial Chinese authorities

In reference to tho so-called Chinese edict, Mr Sew Hoy informed a Dunodin "Star" reporter that tho report of the Chinese Commission that pome time ago visited Australia was forwarded to the Chinese in the colonies about two months since, and that appended to the report were certain recommendations, one of which was to the effect that the Chinese forces by land and sea should bo materially strengthened, so as to be able to cope with those of other nations—not for the purpose of offensive warfare, but strictly with the object of efficiently defending Chinese territory. In forwarding copies of this report the authorities expressed the hope that the Chinese residing abroad would subscribe towards tbe outlay to be incurred by the Chinese Government in this divection ; but no demand was made, and it was intimated that when the money was required it would be left to the Chinese in the colonies to contribute as they felt disposed. Tho circular contained no hint of war. Mr Sew Hoy added that cwing to the recent interruption of trade he had received no homo advices for a month ; but that the litest Hongkong paper to hand contained the information thab Russia had appointed a Commission to visit China with the view of strengthening the goodfeoling which has latterly eprung up between these two countries, and that there were evidences on all sides of a desire on the part of China and Russia to shake hands and forget all about their former enmities.