The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-07
LION WILL HAVE
CHANCE TO ROAR
Attack Upon HiinduS at BeIIing-
ham Will Probably Be Sub
jeGt of Complaint.
GOVERNMENT POWERLESS
SUCH INCIDENTS ALWAYS CAUSE
EMBARRASSMENT.

Washington. Sept. 6.-While no in
formation of an official character has
reached the state department as yet
concerning the summary and violent
expulsion of Hindus from Bellingham,
Wash, yesterday, it is confidently ex-
pected that il the facts are as repre-
scented in the press, Ambassador Bryce
viii soon be heard from The British
government takes pride above all
things in protecting the lives and prop
erty OF it's subjects. so it is expected
that as soon as the British consular
officer, who is reported to be looking
into the matter, has completed his in
vestigation and communicated with
the summer home OF the British en-
bassy. at Intervale n. H, formal COM
plant will be lodged with the state
department.
Embarrassing incident.
It is believed that the task of in
Vestigating this matter will fall upon
oscar KlOckeT, the British vice consul
at Port Townsend, as being probably
the nearest consular officer to the scene
of the incident. The state department
is alwoys embarrassed in dealing with
incidents of this character. owing to
the fact to which the attention of con-
gTess has often been called, that the
United States courts, are not clothed
with the authority 10 enter the confines
of a state even 10 protect foreigners
in their treaty rights. All that the
state department can do in such a case
as that at Bellingham is to follow the
well-wOrn presidents established in
Wyoming louisiana California and
elsewhere in cases where foreigners
have been mobbed or killed. That is,
the department, in the name of the
president may address the governor of
Washington, transmitting perhaps the
complaint Of the British embassy, if
there should be one, and requesting
him to take steps to prevent a recur-
renee of the trouble. Such appeals
have generally been effective, and
doubtless would be in this case, not
wtthstanding the racial feeling which
appears to have been engendered, and
which always adds very much to the
difficulty of the officials in adjusting
matters on proper basis. Probably
in the end claims for damages sus-
tanned by the individual Hindus who
were beaten or driven away from lu-
erative employment will be preferred.
Can Bring Civil Actions.
If the aggrieved individuals care to
do so, they may bring civil actions
against the municipal authorities at
Bellingham in the local courts, just as
the Japanese restaurant and bath
house keepers have done in San Fran
cisco, and undoubtedly the state de-
partment would very much prefer that
this course be followed. If, however,
owing to local antipathy on the part
of white people of Bellingham to the
Hindu colony. it should be found i'm
possible to secure justice at the hands
of the local Judiciary, then, as was
done in the case of murderous attacks
upon the Chinese at Rock Springs.
Wyo., and upon the Italians in New
Orleans some years ago. the eXecu-
tive will recommend to congress that
indemnity be paid to the victims. The
British government, for its part, is
likely to find itself embarrassed in
dealing with the Bellingham incident
because of the eveT-pTesent danger Of
similar attacks upon the East Indians
who are numerous in British Columbia
So that If this case is pressed, the
precedent established might be trouble
some to the imperial officials were they
in turn called upon to pay damages for
injuries to persons and property sus-
tanned by the Hindus who are British
subjects at the hands of British colon
lists.