Randall L. Gibson to Aaron S. Daggett, March 13, 1884
Mr. Gibson to Mr. Daggett.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s letter of the 5th instant, replying to mine of December 19, conveying to me the specific conclusions of the Government of the United States on the subject of exclusive privileges connected with the transport of Chinese laborers to these islands, to the effect that the right claimed by this Government to grant such exclusive privileges, either for sanitary or other reasons, involves a violation of treaty stipulations.
In my dispatch of January 4, which was accompanied by a copy of a letter to His Majesty’s consul-general at Hong Kong, I had the honor to inform your excellency that ho instruction had been sent to authorize any line of steamers, to transport Chinese immigrant laborers to these islands, and at the present time no such authorization exists. Any attempt on the part of any line of steamers to introduce such immigrant laborers is wholly without the warrant of permission or instruction from His Majesty’s Government.
His Majesty fully appreciates the assurances coming from the Government of the United States that the sovereign right of His Majesty’s Government to restrict or inhibit Chinese immigration remains unquestioned.
This immigration cannot be regarded in the same light as ordinary passenger travel such as was contemplated when the treaty of 1849 was negotiated.
His Majesty’s Government would not think, even without treaty obligations, of imposing restrictions on ordinary passenger traffic to this Kingdom; but a passenger traffic composed exclusively of male laborers, entirely without means, who show no disposition for settlement or assimilation abroad, is of such a character that the great American Republic itself has found it expedient, as Hawaii now does, to have a complete control of such traffic or immigration. Without such control there would in the case of this country be danger to its autonomy.
Therefore, His Majesty’s Government, confirming a resolution of His Majesty in cabinet council of July 13, of last year, have placed in the control of this Department the regulation of Chinese immigration, and I have the honor to inform your excellency that an order has been issued and communicated to His Majesty’s diplomatic and consular representatives at Washington, San Francisco, and elsewhere, that Chinese coming here (not already furnished with official permits) in numbers exceeding twenty-five in any one vessel will not be allowed entrance into this Kingdom. Meantime the whole subject of Chinese immigration will be submitted to the Legislative Assembly at its approaching session with the view of obtaining new and decisive legislation upon the subject. I have therefore the honor to inform your excellency that in the mean time no permits are or will be issued to any steamer lines giving to them any exclusive privileges in regard to the transportation of Chinese immigrant laborers from Hong Kong or elsewhere to this Kingdom.
I have, &c.,