Department
of State,
Washington, April 10,
1888.
No. 304.][Inclosure in No. 304.]
Mr. Adamson to Mr.
Rives.
[Extract.]
Consulate General of the United States of
America,
Panama,
March 21, 1888.
No. 369.]Sir: Referring to your No. 132, of March 6,
marked “Confidential” which incloses a copy of a dispatch from the
American minister in China in relation to the employment of Chinese
coolies on the Panama Canal, I note your instructions to inform the
Department whether “French Government transports” are conveying coolies
from Tonquin to Panama.
In reply, I have to say that up to this time no “French Government
transports” have brought any coolies from Tonquin or China to
Panama.
I suspect there is an error in the statement, and that the shipment
referred to is that of 565 Chinese laborers brought by the Pacific Mail
steam-ship City of Pekin from Hong-Kong (say, in
March, 1887) to San Francisco, where they were transferred to same
company’s steam-ship Colima, and 563 coolies
landed herefrom Colima on the 3d day of May,
1887, two having died during the voyage.
I saw these men landed, and made a note of the fact at the time, and have
confirmed my facts to-day by information received from the general agent
of the Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company, who adds that the coolies in
question were brought out by agents of one of the great contracting
firms of the Canal Company (Bonafous & Co.), who wished to ship
more, but the governor of Hong-Kong would not permit it.
I may also add that the prefect of Panama told me this morning that in
three months after their arrival here not a single coolie remained on
the works of the canal. They deserted in squads daily, it being
impossible to identify and put them back on the works, and judging from
personal observation and common report I believe they quickly became
“washermen” and petty shop-keepers on “the line.”
The ill-success of that experiment renders it improbable that any more
Chinese coolies will be brought here in none are expected by Canal
Company’s director.
I am, etc.,
