SECRETARY OF STATE'S REPLY. WELLINGTON, January 27.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 14

SECRETARY OF STATE'S REPLY. WELLINGTON, January 27.

His Excellency the Governor has received the following oblo message from the- Secretary of Stats for tho Colonies: — "I have received your telegram conveying the view which your Government has formed with regard to the introduction of Chinos^ labour into the Transvaal. I fully recognise the title of all self-governing colonies to express their opinion on so important a question, and especially of those, who, like Now Zealand, rendered memorable sei^vicos in the South African war, but his Majesty's Government declares that its policy is to treat tha Transvaal as though it -was a solfgo\oroing colony, unless distinct Imperial interest is concerned, and to interfere as little as possible with looal option and local wishes. This policy has many reasons to support it, but, among others, they are based on the conviction that ©ach. of the States of the Empire, by reason of its direcc interest aad. -uieeiaj, knowledge of the

conditions nToct ng i\ is best able to deal \Mth n. c\. a p'o:^l^;n-. It i> this cop,.c-

(ion vim. 1 ' "viidfj his Maje-tv's Govornment m its ae'ivin in logaui to tho que-~Tion. of ohen iac^ in N< w Zealand mcl Ain<rjl'd. It n'l-t nit ho. ffj.^ott n t^rt thcr3 i.« i-iiLic 1 ! that n aijho.Mii ,r\ tho- «. ■ciiom.o condition- of tho Traii-ias,! r'l.ci 'M"r'->t call for abiiomiil mea=arc=, fvl hu iLje^tys Cio\-rnir>':il. consi-tent w::'i the ? nJicy wh ; ch it lia^ laid down, couid not. r. fu=^ to accede to the wi'slth of onrv narc o f tho Empire on any matter which ir regarded 03 of paramount mipcrtmic^ .-> its v ell bemn-. In "de-ferc-nco to ?:iy r -nr. from, another nan of the Empire net: direotlv n^erc^tcd, his Ma^stys Lloverrment fee ''3 a-siu-ed that the Trair-v«ial Government will give such weight to tho opinion of any sc-lf-governmg coloivy as tho fxce-jtirnal circv.rnstano^s of its eor.rJry pcrmit7 I have commrricated to Lord Mihie-r tin tfrms of your telegram and also of this repl}-."