Ambassador Reid to the Secretary of State.

No. 146.]

Sir: With reference to Mr. Carter’s No. 103, of the 13th ultimo, in reply to your telegram of the 15th of November last, relative to the boycott of American goods by the Chinese at Singapore, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note from the foreign office, dated the 6th instant, stating that a dispatch has been received by Sir Edward Grey from the governor of the Straits Settlements in regard to that question, from which it appears that nothing has come to the knowledge of Sir John Anderson to show that the movement has taken a serious turn or that trade in general has come to a standstill, while on the other hand there is no doubt a widespread feeling among the Chinese of resentment in regard to the exclusion of their countrymen from the United States, and the Standard Oil Company, which is endeavoring to increase the sale of its products at Singapore, has suffered to some extent.

The leaders, however, have been reminded of the risk of such a movement leading to violence and intimidation if it should spread to the cooly class, and have been warned that they will be held responsible should this be the case. Sir John Anderson is convinced that this warning will be sufficient to make them careful to avoid any breach of the law in promoting the movement, but not to make the Chinese resume buying American goods in so far as they have ceased doing so.

It also appears that the police of the protectorate have been instructed to exercise the greatest vigilance in the matter, and that it is not likely that the headmen will encourage anything that would justify the Government in taking action under the banishment ordinance.

I have, etc.,

Whitelaw Reid.
[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Campbell (for the secretary of foreign affairs) to Ambassador Reid.

Your Excellency: With reference to the communication made by your excellency to the Marquis of Lansdowne on the 15th November last, on the subject of the boycott of American goods at Singapore, I have the honor to state that a dispatch has been received from the governor of the Straits Settlements in regard to that question.

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Sir John Anderson reports that so far nothing has come to his knowledge to show that the movement has taken a serious turn or that trade in general has come to a standstill. There is, no doubt, a widespread feeling amongst the Chinese of resentment in regard to the exclusion of their countrymen from the United States, and the Standard Oil Company, which is endeavoring to increase the sale of its products at Singapore, has suffered to some extent.

So far, however, the movement is voluntary and the leaders have been reminded of the risk of such a movement leading to violence and intimidation if it should spread to the cooly class, and have been warned that they will be held responsible should this be the case.

Sir John Anderson is convinced that this warning will be sufficient, not indeed to make the Chinese resume buying American goods in so far as they have ceased doing so, but to make them careful to avoid any breach of the law in endeavoring to promote the movement.

The police and the protectorate have been instructed to exercise the greatest vigilance in the matter, and the Chinese at Singapore are essentially a law-abiding and good-humored people, and very amenable to their headmen, who are not likely to encourage or allow anything which would justify the Government in taking action under the banishment ordinance.

I have, etc.

F. A. Campbell
,
(For the Secretary of State).