CHINESE IMMIGRATION. The first recorded Chinese immigrants to the United States reached San Francisco in 1848; not until 1852 did they begin to arrive in considerable numbers, when at least 18,000 were in the country. During the next eight years their numbers almost doubled. Some became miners, serv ants, laundrymen and farm hands; many engaged in the building of railroads. There being more work than laborers, the Chinese at first were generally welcomed, although there were protests against their free entrance, especially in California.
Although emigration to the islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans had been going on for hundreds of years, the Manchus, who ruled China after 1644, discouraged it. The ban upon emi gration was lifted locally in the province of Kwangtung in In 1868 the Imperial Government reversed its non-emigration order by signing with the United States the Burlingame Treaty. The increased entry of Chinese into the United States subse quently caused economic and social difficulties. The Chinese were able to live on a lower scale than Americans or European immigrants, and were willing to do work scorned by white men.
The thrift and economy of the Chinese, their lack of desire or ability to amalgamate, the funds sent by them to China, the ulti mate return thither of many, the fact that they were of a differ ent race and culture, and that most of them were from the more unfortunate classes of China—all served to stir up jealousy, con tempt and persecution throughout the West.
On November 17, 1880, a treaty was signed by the United States and China providing for the regulation or suspension of immigra tion, but not its absolute prohibition. The first of a series of Chinese Exclusion Acts aimed at labourers was passed May 6, 1882, and this was followed by others in later years. The appli cation of these exclusion measures to the Hawaiian and Philippine Islands occurred in 1 goo and 1902. In addition to the special legis lation directed at Chinese, the latter come under the application of the general immigration laws of 1917 and 1924, and may be de ported on departmental warrant if they enter the country in vio lation of law. The severity with which the laws have been applied has caused friction on numerous occasions.
Prior to 1924 the admissible classes of Chinese were teachers, including editors; students; travellers; merchants, including bankers, with their wives and minor children ; officials of the Chi nese government, with their wives, children and servants ; per sons whose physical condition necessitated immediate hospital treatment; persons shown by convincing proof to have been born in the United States, with their wives who were admitted not as citizens but as the wives of citizens, also their minor children; and seamen under prescribed conditions. The number of Chinese in the United States has fallen steadily since 1890 when 107,488 were reported to 192o, when but 61,639 were listed.
In the British Isles the number of Chinese has been negligible. The history of Chinese immigration into the English-speaking parts of the British Empire—notably Australia, New Zealand and Canada—has in many ways paralleled that of the United States. The first Chinese to enter Australia appear to be those who entered Queensland between 184o and 1859, where they served as shepherds. The discovery of gold led to a considerable influx in the sixth decade of the century; in 1854 there were 2,341 Chinese in Victoria; by 1859 there were in the gold-fields some 42,000. In New South Wales by 1861 there were about 13,000. Disturbances began in 186o, the Chinese at times being driven from the fields. The Chinese question assumed political, economic and diplomatic significance during the remainder of the century. A determining factor in the federation of the Common wealth of Australia in 1901 was the need for uniform exclusion laws. During the first year of the Union a sweeping immigration act went into effect. As amended during the next quarter of a cen tury, this act prohibits the immigration into the country of "any person who fails to pass the dictation test." In the years 1905 to 1914 none passed. Non-permanent settlers, including merchants, travellers and students are not required to take the test. Since 1888 the number of Chinese has dropped steadily. In 1891 there were 38,077, including half-castes; by 1920 the estimated num ber was 20,118.
From 1908-23 four Acts were passed in New Zealand having to do with immigration restriction or exclusion. Chinese are required to obtain permits from the Minister of Customs, and pay a poll tax of one hundred pounds. Registered Chinese aliens in April 192o numbered 2,376.
In Canada the mining of gold and the building of the Canadian Pacific Railroad encouraged Chinese immigration early in the '7os, immigration at that time being unrestricted. Since 1886 Chinese immigration has been controlled by a head tax ranging from $5o per entrant in 1886 to $5oo after 1904. By the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 Chinese of non-labouring classes only may enter. In 1920 it was estimated that not more than 35,000 Chinese were in the Dominion.