Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-07
WILL INVESTIGATE
ATTACK ON HLNDUS
STATE DEPARTMENT EXPECTS
DEMAND
Fight Made on English Dependents
In Washington Likely to Be SUBJ
ject of International Dis
cussion

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 6-While
no information of an official character
has reached the state department con-
cerning the summary violent expulsion of
Hindus from Bellingham, Washington,
yesterday, 1t is confidently explained that
If the facts are as reported in the press
Ambassador Bryce will soon be heard
from.
The British government takes pride
above all things in protecting the lives
and property of its subjects, so 1T Is ex-
pected that as soon as the British con-
sular officer who is reported to be look
ing into the matter has completed his
investigation and communicated with the
summer home of the British embassy at
Intervalen, N. H., formal complaint will
be lodged with the state department.
1t is believed that the task of investi-
CATION of this matter will fall upon Oscar
Klocker, the British vice-consul at Port
Townsend as being probably the nearest
consular officer to the scene of the in
cident.
The state department Is always em-
barrassed in dealing with incidents of
this character, owing to the fact to which
the attention of congress has often been
called that the national government and
even the United States courts are not
clothed with the authority to enter the
confines of state even to protect for
eigners 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 precedents established in
wyoming, Louisiana, California and else
where in cases where foreigners have
been mobbed or killed. That is, the de-
partment OF state 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 recurrence of the
trouble.
May Get Redress
Such appeals have generally been eff
fective and doubtless would be In this
case notwithstanding the racial feeling
which appears to have been engendered
and which always adds very much to the
difficulty of the officials in adjusting mat
ters on a proper basis.
Probably in the end calls for damages
sustained by the Individual Hindus who
were beaten or driven away from lucra-
tive employment will be preferred. If the
aggrieved individuals care to do so they
may bring civil actions against the
authorities at Bellingham in
the local courts, just as the Japanese
restaurant and bath housekeepers have
done in San Francisco and undoubtedly
the state department would very much
prefer that this course be followed.
If, however, owing to the local antip-
athy on the part of white people of
to the Hindu colony 1t
should be found impossible to secure
justice at the hands of the local judiciary
as was done In the case of the murderous
attacks upon the Chinese at Rock
Springs, Wyoming, and upon the Italians
In New Orleans some years ago, the
executive will recommend to congress
that indemnity be paid to the victims.
The British government, for its part, Is
likely to find itself embarrassed in deal
Ing with the Belllngham incident because
Of the ever present danger of similar at
tacks upon the East Indians who are
numerous in British Columbia. So that
If this case is pressed the precedent
established might be troublesome to the
imperial officials where they in turn
might be called upon to pay damages for
injuries to persons and property sustained
BY the Hindus who are British subjects
1T the hands of British colonists.