THE DAILY PROVINCE
DECEMBER 18, 1911

HINDUS TO MAKE APPEAL TO KING

------------------Not Satisfied With Answer Given Them by
Minister of Interior.
--------------Claim the Same Privileges in Canada as Other
British Subjects.
------------------Toronto, Dec. 18,--The Sikhs who petitioned the Dominion
Government to be allowed the same privileges, under the Canadian
immigration laws as other British subjects, are understood to be dissatisfied
with the answer given them by the minister of the interior. It is said they will
appeal directly to His Majesty King George asking royal intervention on their
behalf, and will also communicate with the British Government.
Dr. Sunda Singh has just returned from Ottawa and is putting himself in
cable communication with India with a view to having his people wait upon
His Majesty, while the later(Sic) is in India. The delegations claim to have the
promise of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, that all rights would be
accorded the Hindu as British subjects throughout the Empire.
“We are British subjects,” said Dr. Sunda Singh, “and we seek only from
the Canadian Government the same treatment which is accorded to
Doukhobors and other foreign immigrants.
“We would not affect the Canadian labor market,” said he. “Our people
are farmers and would not compete with the Canadian laborer. We would till
the soil and aid in developing the country. In India, Canadians share in the
glory of British subjects. We have Canadian minsters and missionaries,
Canadian civil servants and Canadian traders. We are prepared to co-operate

THE DAILY PROVINCE
DECEMBER 18, 1911

with the Canadian government as to undesirables, and will give bonds to the
immigration authorities that no Hindus shall become a public charge.”
Dr. Sunda Singh expressed the hope that His Majesty would intervene
on behalf of his people. “It would do much to quiet the unrest in India,” he
said.