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were incompatible with Her Majesty's international engagements, the omission of the Crown to exercise its right of veto is not to be taken as showing that the central Government approved them. In the Crown colonies it has not been found necessary to treat Chinese subjects differently from the subjects-.-! other Powers, and it is difficult to understand why it should be otherwise in those colonies on whom a certain amount of self-government has been conferred. It has never been alleged that Chinese immigrants were unruly. For, not only in Hongkong and the Straits Settlements, but also in Australia, the colonial Governors have repeatedly borne testimony to the orderly conduct of the Chinese population, and to their value in developing the colonial resources. There does not, therefore, appear to be any sufficient reason for their being deprived of the immunities accorded to them by the treaties and the law of nations, or to their being treated differently from the subjects of other Powers residing in the same parts of Her Britannic Majesty's dominions. The Imperial Government sees with regret the continued existence of the exceptional and exceptionable laws which some of the colonial Legislatures of Australia and the Dominion have at different times enacted against Chinese subjects, and hopes that, with a view to the elimination of any part of them which may be found to be at variance with treaty obligations and international usage, Her Majesty's Government will be pleased to institute an inquiry into their nature, and how far they are compatible with the increasing growth of the friendly relations which now happily exist between the two countries. I have, &c, The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., &c. Lew.

Telegram to the Secretary of State. 12th May, 1888. My Ministers state great excitement prevails here over Chinese immigration, and, considering that Chinese immigrants have been excluded from United States under treaty, also that Australian Colonies refuse permission for Chinese immigrants to land, feel obliged to introduce Act of a similar kind to Victorian Act 723 of 1881, already assented to by Her Majesty's Government. I propose to assent unless, in reference to general question, I receive instructions to the contrary. Government here urge Her Majesty's Government to negotiate treaty with Chinese Government on similar terms to recent treaty concluded by United States with Chinese Government.

(No. 41.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, 16th May, 1888. With reference to your circular despatch of the 23rd January last, requesting a report from my Government on the subject of exceptional legislation affecting Chinese subjects which is in force in this colony, I have the honour to transmit a copy of a memorandum which I have received from the Premier, Sir H. Atkinson, furnishing the desired information. It will be observed that my Government .has, in compliance with popular pressure, brought in a Bill to strengthen the existing restrictions on Chinese immigration. This Bill, however, includes no provisions which have not already, in the case of the Colony of Victoria, received the assent of Her Majesty. On this ground, as I have already informed your Lordship by telegram, I propose to assent to it. On the Bth instant the Government republished a Proclamation originally issued in July, 1881, declaring all Chinese ports to be infected, under "The " Public Health Preservation Act, 1876." This Proclamation has for some time been in abeyance, but has been revived from the same motives which prompted the introduction of the Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Bill. It appears to me that objection might justly be raised against both the Bill and the Proclamation; but, as the principle of exceptional legislation affecting the Chinese has been sanctioned in former years by the Imperial Government, I do not see that my Ministers are otherwise than justified in the course that they have taken. I should add that a party of Chinese who were denied permission to land in Australia have recently arrived in New Zealand. At Invercargill, a town close to the Bluff, where they were expected to land, and also at Dunedin, public meetings were held, and some violent language was used against the Chinese; but when it appeared that the-hulk of these immigrants were bound for Greymouth, on the west coast of the South Island, the excitement subsided; and the party was landed a few days later (12th May) at its destination without any hostile demonstration whatever on the part of the colonists. Early on the following

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