The following Despatch is published for general information Right Honourable Sir Michael E, Hicks Beach, Bart, M.P., to His Excellency Governor Henuesty, C.M.G.
Downing-street, 2ud December, 1879.
S1a,—I have the honour to transmit heres with for your information and guide copy of a letter and its enclosures received from the For British protection to Chi Hongkong to Cuba, have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, M, E. Hicks-Beacu, Foreign Office to Colonial Office, Foreign Office, 24th November, 1879.
Srr,—I am directed by the Marquis of jury to trai to you for the informa ation of the Secretary of State for the Colonior, of a despatch from the Acting British I-General in Cuba, and of the reply has been addressed thereto, from which it will be seen that His Lordship hus decided that, in consequence of the arrival of a Chinese Consul-General in Cuba there i reason for ¢ 1g to extend British pro" tection to Chinese in that island unless they can give good reasons for showing that they are British subjects Michael Hicks-Beach, that Tam to suggest, for the consi
be issued with the view of informing nati of Hongkong that, in the event of their emigrating to Cuba, they will have to take steps on arrival there to prove their British nationality before British protection can be extended to thei.
Tam, &e., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
Foreign Office to Acting Consul at Cuba, Foreign Office, 24th November 187!
Sir,—In reply to your Despatch No. 40 of the 25th ultimo, {am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to inform you that, in com the arrival of a Chinese Eu Cabs, His Lordship has decided that there is no reason for continuing to extend British protection to the Chinese in the island.
If, however, a Chinese labourer in Cuba claims British protection and can show beyond doubt that he was born in the British dominions, Her Majesty's Consul-General should afford him that protection, but the burden of proving his British nationality must in all cases fall upon the applicant.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.