THE DAILY PROVINCE MAY 22, 1914 p.1&4 HINDUS’ SHIP CAN NOT SHOW BILL OF HEALTH ------------------- Ottawa Is Asked to Immediately Order Her Back to the Japanese Coast. ------------------- Leader of Big Excursion Says that All India Is Watching Moves Now. ------------Immigration Officers Warn Off Hindu Launches at William Head. ------------------- Special Precautions to Be Taken in Vancouver If the Vessel Comes Here. ------------------- London, May 22.-Apropos of the trouble threatened over the arrival of Hindu immigrants at Vancouver, tonight’s Pail Mail Gazette remarks that the yellow races are not wanted in Canada and can not(Sic) be introduced without endangering the livelihood of the white settlers. If Canada has taken forcible measures to defend here shores it must be remembered that she has given ample warning, adds the Gazette. ------------------Await Ottawa’s Order. There is a strong probability that the three hundred and seventy-six Hindu excursionists who wish to be the forerunners of a horde of a few millions into Canada may never pass the quarantine station at William Head, where they arrived last night. THE DAILY PROVINCE MAY 22, 1914 p.1&4 When Dr. Nelson, the quarantine officer at the station off Victoria this morning examined the papers of the Komagata Maru, he found that she had no bill of health from Moji, the last Japanese port from which she had cleared. This omission is clearly a technical reason to refuse to allow the vessel to proceed, and it remains with the authorities at Ottawa to say whether the vessel will be allowed to come on to Vancouver even to discharge 1500 tons of coal which she has in her hold. At 1 o’clock this afternoon the Japanese steamer was still tied up at William Head. Later in the afternoon definite instructions are expected from the federal capital, and the officials hope that these will order the vessel back to Japan on the ground of breaking the health regulations. This would obviate even an examination by the immigration officials. Bills of health are in Captain Yamamoto’s possession from Hongkong and Yokohama and he explained that the British consul at Moji told him that it would not be necessary for him to secure a bill at that port through the fact that he would have to call in at Yokohama. This morning he produced papers to show that his ship had been fumigated at Moji, but Dr. Nelson decided to wire Ottawa for instructions and the craft is being held in the meantime. The eyes of all India are focused on the outcome of the test cases, it is said. The Hindus believe that they will be admitted to Canada because they are British subjects, but if they are ordered deported they are willing to spend both their time and money to force matters in the courts. On the other hand, the Canadian immigration officials have an order-incouncil backing them up, and the order for their deportation seems almost a certainty. Surprised at Change. When informed this morning that the order-in-council relative to the exclusion of laborers and artisans had been extended, the Hindus expressed considerable surprise. They were under the impression that the regulations THE DAILY PROVINCE MAY 22, 1914 p.1&4 had expired and that their main point to fight on arriving here would be that they had not come direct from the land of their birth. It was evident that the Hindus felt that the new laws would harass their proposition to no mean extent, but now that they are here they are preparing to make the best fight they are capable of putting up. The latest information from William Head is that the Komagata Maru, if granted pratique, will proceed direct to Vancouver without calling at Victoria. The majority of the Hindus have served in the British army and they are a tall, broad and handsome lot. They seem superior to the class of Hindus which have heretofore come to this province. The Hindus are under the conviction that as British subjects they are entitled to roam throughout the British Empire. When this privilege is denied them they intend to appeal to the Imperial Government in London, believing that it has authority to enforce their right of entry. They say they will hold the British Government responsible if they are ordered deported. Before leaving Hongkong the party had the governor of Hongkong send cablegrams to the British Government and also to the governor-general of Canada. Nit the text of the messages is not known. Hindu Friends Warned Away. Very early this morning Chief inspector Reid of Vancouver, and Dr. Milne of Victoria went out from Victoria to board the Japanese liner. They found that of the 376 immigrants aboard all were men except two women and three children. The decks presented a remarkable sight, for many groups of men were squatting about preparing their morning meal and jabbering very excitedly amongst themselves. The officials had been on hand but a short time when a large launch with Hindus on board came out from Victoria to the quarantine station. Coming quite close alongside a Hindu with a speaking trumpet endeavored to talk with the men on the ship, apparently trying to instruct them regarding the arrangements for the landing. Chief Inspector Reid immediately ordered this THE DAILY PROVINCE MAY 22, 1914 p.1&4 party away out of speaking distance with the ship, and notified the Hindus aboard that he objected very vehemently to their action. “What is done with this shipload of my people will determine whether we shall have peace in all parts of the British Empire,” significantly declared Gurdit Singh to one of the officials this morning. He added: “The main object of our coming is to let the British Government know how they can maintain their rule in India, as the Indian Government is in danger nowadays,” he said, “We can absolutely state how the British Government may be made to last in India forever.” Take Precaution Here. If the ship is given health clearance she will proceed to Vancouver. Arrangements have already been made to have a detachment of police on hand to keep Hindus in this city away from the wharves, and also to secure an adequate marine patrol by launches at night. In all probability, until the immigration officials have concluded their examination, if they are called on to make one, the vessel will be anchored in the stream. Many score of Hindus paraded out to the outer wharf at Victoria this morning waiting to welcome their compatriots from the other side. Many of the watchful waiters were said to be armed with stout canes and clubs. Gurdit Singh, the charterer, in charge of the party o9n the Komagata, declared to newspaper correspondents who went out in launches to the vessel that he was going to make a desperate effort to land his passengers. He added that he was out to ascertain once and for all if Canada had any right to keep out British subjects while she allowed aliens to land. He informed the reporters that 160 of his passengers were taken on at Hongkong and the balance at Shanghai and at Japanese ports. Gurdit Singh is apparently a wealthy man for he announced his intention of fighting the matter in the courts if the immigration authorities prevent the landing of his passengers. Launch Went to Meet Her. THE DAILY PROVINCE MAY 22, 1914 p.1&4 The promised arrival of the Hindu excursion kept the immigration officials on the jump last evening. Quite early yesterday Chief Inspector Reid received advice from Alberni that a small party of Hindus from Vancouver had arrived there on Wednesday afternoon, and after chartering a good-sized and fast launch, had proceeded down the canal in the direction of the sea. It was suspected immediately, of course, that the object was to overhaul the Komagata Maru on her way to quarantine. The possibility that she might land her 376 Hindus in some unfrequented bay on the west coast of the island caused Inspector Reid a good deal of worry. Two government launches and a fishery protection cruiser were warned to be on the lookout, and the revenue cutters of the American service off Cape Flattery were also asked to keep an eye out for the Hindu vessel. But no report of her was sent until just at dusk last evening she appeared off the quarantine station, proving that she had a rather better turn of speed than she had been given credit for. She made the run across the Pacific in sixteen days, which was very good for a tramp vessel. It was suspected that the launch sent from Alberni might have gone to convey funds to the new arrivals, so that they might have a better chance to be considered as good immigrants under the regulations which provide that each man must have a well-filled purse. It has not yet developed whether or not the Alberni expedition was successful at all, but in view of the early arrival of the Komagata Maru at William Head, it does not appear likely that she was delayed by dropping in anywhere on the west coast. It is stated that Mr. J. Edward Bird has been retained as Counsel by the Hindus to fight the legal-end of their proposed landing. The Komagata Maru is commanded by Captain Yamamoto and carries a crew of Nippon sailors and firemen. She is consigned to C. Gardner Johnson & Co., Vancouver, by Y. Sato & Co. of Kobe, and she has 1500 tons of Japanese coal which here owners wish to sell here. A Vancouver pilot left for Victoria at 10 a.m. today to pilot the steamer here.