The Chinese Question.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 26

The Chinese Question.

(per press association.) Sydney, June 3. Colonel Morgan, American ConsulGeneral, is of opinion that the Ameri-can-Chinese Treaty is practically inoperative, as the Chinese are only precluded from "landing in America tor the first time, and does not prevent Chinese from visiting China and returning on an exemption certificate. Lie considers that Australia a difficulty is the same as America s, viz the trafficking in exemption and naturalisation papers. . - The Wiikc-t ipu, which sailed for Welliiu' 1 “n \relay, took with her 60 Chine:c, a; arrived here from China.

[ An anti-Chinese demonstration paraded t]ie streets to-night, and held a. meetiug in the domain. • About 30,000 were present. The meeting was addressed by several members of Parliament. All the premises occupied by Chinese were closed by order of the police as a precautionary measure, but no disturbance whatever took place. Melbourne, June 2. Government are in receipt of information that 22 Chinese have entered Victoria across the border of New South Wales, having been lauded in Twofold Bay by, a steamer which left Sydney. Steps are being taken to confirm the information. Brisbane, June 3. The captain of the stoamor Tsinan refused to accept 14 Chinese as passengers for China, fearing that they would combine with those already on board iu raising a mutiny. London, June 2. Sir James Fergussoii, replying to Mr Henuiker Heaton, said the Chinese Government were greatly irritated at the exclusion of the Chinese from Australia, and that tho position of the Government on the question was an extremely difficult one. In the House of Commons, Baron do Worms stated that no treaty of engagement exists permitting Chinese to enter the colonies at pleasure.. The Colonial Office, he said, was willing to negotiate with China for an amended treaty after further consulting the colonies, toward whose attitude there was no antagonism, and there was, he thought, little doubt that possibly a settlement could be arranged on somewhat similar terms to the treaty between America and China, which pre-. eludes the Chinese for twenty years. Sydney, June 5. In hearing the application for a suit of habeas corpus to-day, the Chief Justice said the writs ought to bo rendered unnecessary, the Court having previously decided that the detention of the Chinese had been illegal. I-Ie stated that if any of the men so detained in attempting to break "free killed anyone, they could not be punished for murder, as they were illegally restrained contrary to the distinct order of the Court, but on the other hand the person so restraining them- would be guilty o: murder. The Chinese passeugers of the Changsha were landed to-night under a writ of habeas corpus.