No. 332.
Mr. Daggett to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Honolulu , April 6, 1883. (Received April 27.)
Sir: I deem it proper to direct your attention to a very marked renewal of the immigration of Chinese laborers to these islands. There are now in quarantine here nearly 1,000, and it is estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 in addition will be landed here from Hong-Kong within the next thirty-five or forty days.
This sudden influx is due to the removal of the restrictions which for some time past have retarded the departure of Chinese laborers from Hong-Kong and to the closing of the ports of the United States against these classes. The introduction of additional Chinese laborers, even beyond actual requirement, is generally regarded with favor by the planters, since an excessive labor supply would tend inevitably to a reduction in labor rates.
There are now in these islands about 16,000 Chinese. It is estimated that 4,000 are engaged on the plantations. The remaining 12,000 are occupied as rice-planters, gardeners, shopkeepers, fishermen, tailors, boot and shoe makers, domestics, peddlers, &c., and in various other pursuits. They are steadily depriving the natives of their means of support.* * *
A further considerable increase in the number of Chinese laborers here would assuredly hasten the destruction of the native people, and sooner or later render it difficult for the Hawaiian Government to protect the great foreign interests commercially controlling the islands.
In view of this threatened inundation of Asiatics, I have felt it my duty to personally direct the attention both of His Majesty and of His Majesty’s minister of foreign affairs to the great danger of permitting Chinese adventurers to domicile themselves here without restriction, and to impress upon the Government the necessity of taking measures tending to turn back the tide.
[Page 556]I have reason to believe that the Government has at length been brought to a realization of the danger threatening, and that the next Legislative Assembly will put a limit to Chinese immigration to the Hawaiian Islands.
Meantime, I am informed by the minister of foreign affairs, the Hawaiian consul-general at Hong-Kong has been instructed to discourage the further immigration of Chinese to these islands, and the Hawaiian minister at Washington has been authorized to apprise you of the fact.
I am, &c.,