THE DAILY PROVINCE JUNE 8, 1914 p.1&4 TO KEEP ASIATICS OUT OF THE DOMINION ------------------- Mr. H. H. Stevens Introduces Amendment to the Immigration Act. ------------------- Premier Announces that the Government Will Consider It. ------------Vancouver Hindus Offer to Pay Balance of Charter Money to the Ship. ------------------- Captain Yamamoto May, In Any Event, Await Arrival of Japanese Cruisers. ------------------- Ottawa, June 8.—A bill to amend the Immigration Act and which proposes to exclude from Canada all Asiatics south of the fiftieth parallel of latitude was introduced in the House of Commons this morning by Mr. H. H> Stevens, member for Vancouver. The bill does not propose to apply to the citizens of any country which has a treaty with Canada in(?) regard to immigration. The amendment was seconded by another British Columbia member, Mr. H. H. Barnard of Victoria. Mr. Stevens, in introducing the bill, pointed out that Canada had had a great deal of difficulty for years dealing with the problem of Asiatic immigration. At present there were three methods in vogue. First, there was immigration with Japan, this was controlled by an arrangement between the two countries. Second, there was head tax on Chinese of $500. Third, the THE DAILY PROVINCE JUNE 8, 1914 p.1&4 Hindu immigration was controlled by means of a clause in the act which declared that immigrants must come by direct route from their native land. Demand for Definite Action. Mr. Stevens said for some time this last method had fairly successfully controlled immigration from India. However, there was much dissatisfaction. It was recognized as a temporary arrangement. There was a strong demand from British Columbia that the government should take some definite and final action. Objections, he said, to exclusion were based on the people of other countries. In this sentiment he concurred, but it had recently been demonstrated that it was necessary to choose between the lesser of two evils. They would have to decide whether they were to cause offence to these people or admit immigrants unrestricted to the shores of Canada. There were, in addition, imperial considerations. Mr. Stevens said that he held the opinion that Canada or any of the overseas Dominions should have the right to control immigration to its shores. The immigrant had no right to enter, but we had the right of exclusion if we desired. Self-protection. Mr. Stevens quoted Lord Curzon as stating that the common rights of British citizenship can not(Sic) override the rights of the overseas Dominions to protect themselves. This was a principle, he said, upon which we should take a firm stand. Mr. Stevens then proceeded to explain his amendment. By this he would fix the principle of exclusion of Asiatics, but he would leave the door open to make an agreement with any country, as there now is with Japan. He would like to see the bill passed this session. He realized that it was late in the session and it might be necessary to open negotiations with London. If it was necessary, he urged that the government open negotiations without delay. Sir Wilfred Laurier pointed out that they were near the end of the session. The bill could only be taken up with the consent of the government. He would like to know what was the attitude of the government. THE DAILY PROVINCE JUNE 8, 1914 p.1&4 Premier Borden said that he had just been informed of the proposals of the bill. It would be given attention. ------------------The Komagata Maru and her Hindus today struck two new angles. The first angle was an offer by two Vancouver Hindus to assume all indebtedness as regards the charter. The second angle was an intimation from (Continued on Page 4.) TO KEEP ASIATICS UOT OF THE DOMINION (Continued From Page 1.) Captain Yamamoto that he would not leave Vancouver until the Japanese cruisers Asama and Adzuma arrive on June 19. As regards the financial backing forthcoming today, the offer was made by Raham Singh and another Sikh, who offered Mr. C. Gardner Johnson agent for the owners of the steamer, to take the place of Gurdit Singh and accept responsibility for the main charges outsanding(Sic) against the leader of the Hindu excursionists and which must be paid by Thursday in accordance with the instructions cabled by the owners. Mr. C. Gardner Johnson immediately took this offer under consideration by cabling to the owners that he was writing fully by the Empress of Russia, which will sail for the Orient on Thursday. Mr. Johnson is stating fully the whole circumstances of the delay of the Komagata Maru, detailing the position since the ship arrived on May 23 and how the situation stands as regards the immigration board. The Empress of Russia is due at Yokohama on June 22, and at Kobe on June 23, so a cabled answer can not(Sic) be expected before June 24. As regards Captain Yamamoto’s views, the Japanese cruisers are due here on June 19 and will remain here until June 22, when they are expected to visit Esquimalt and the Sound. The captain of the Komagata Maru, it is said, feels that he will be better protected when he sails for the Orient with the indignant Hindus, if he has an escort of two Japanese men-of-war and THE DAILY PROVINCE JUNE 8, 1914 p.1&4 probably an armed complement of bluejackets on board his vessel in case the Gurdit Singh trippers cut up rusty as they see British Columbia fading astern. Though the charter of the Japanese steamer Komagata Maru to the Hindus runs out on Thursday of this week there is no certainty at all that the vessel will get away for Japan immediately after that date. At present an absolute deadlock exists between the Hindus and the immigration authorities. No further courts of enquiry are being held because the Hindus refuse to come off the ship in twos and threes to attend, unless all can come off together. In the meantime the owners of the ship have cabled to have the coal cargo sold, and the ship made ready for returning after the charter time runs out on Thursday. That Gurdit Singh did not intend to stop with one trip of the Komagata Maru is quite evident from advertisements appearing in Oriental papers, copies of which have reached Vancouver. The second sailing of the Komagata Maru, this time direct from Calcutta to Vancouver, is advertised to occur in July. The company handling her charter is called the Siru Guru Narak(Sic), and Bhal Gurdit is apparently running it alone. If the trips were successful it was intended to build a ship specially for the run, this vessel to cost $100,000.