I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if; he has considered the effect likely to be I caused on Chinese public opinion by the stoppage of further recruiting of indentured labour in China for the Transvaal; and whether he is taking any precautionary measures to prevent the Chinese placing retaliatory restrictions upon the importation of British manufactures.

His Majesty's Government are under no obligation to avail themselves of the facilities for recruiting coolies which were granted by the Convention of May 13th, 1904, and I have no reason to think that the cessation of recruiting will have any effect on Chinese public opinion.