[Page 1]

NO 2 POLICE STATION. SYDNEY.

27^th March, 1925.

Inspector Leary.

SUBJECT: - Attached papers respecting alleged “Chinese Secret Society” – Newspaper clippings.

REFERENCE: - I.G.P File No. 10194/1925.

[Dividing line.]

I beg to report that on the 13^th February, 1925, I arrested Kwock Wah, charged by Warrant with having assaulted Harry Chee. Wah appeared at the Central Police Court on the 4^th instant, and the case against him was dismissed.

Shortly after Wah’s arrest, and during the time he was on remand, the posters, subject of the newspaper articles mentioned, were found, one in Campbell Street and one in Dixon Street. A translation was made by Mr. George Chee and handed to Mr. J.J. Carroll, Solicitor, prosecuting on behalf of Harry Chee. The posters and translation were produced in court with the intention of showing that Wah was a member of this alleged “Secret Society” and that he had been actuated by the principles of the society to assault Chee who was looked upon as one of those who had betrayed his countrymen to the Customs authorities. The posters and translation were rejected on the ground that they were irrelevant and not material to the issue.

There has always been a certain amount of bickering and petty disturbances amongst the various factions of the Chinese community which on the whole is orderly and peaceful, and there has never been at any time the slightest suspicion that any particular section of them had embarked upon a secret campaign of murder of their fellow countrymen for having betrayed them. The posters, I consider, had been placed where they were found as a joke or perhaps by some person suffering from some grievance either real or imaginary and for the purpose of intimidating those persons likely to give information re prohibited immigrants.

The respectable and reliable Chinese residents regard the alleged Secret Society as a joke and would not for one moment tolerate the existence of such a society, which in their opinion would not be in the best interests of the Chinese community even the operations of such were only directed against those persons offending against its principles.

So far as the newspaper articles are concerned, I consider them in each instance to be a gross distortion of facts foisted upon the public with the object of bolstering up a failing circulation and the work of journalists who have drawn too freely upon a disordered imagination.

One of the original posters is attached, also the hand written translation made by George Chee who is prepared to make an affidavit to the effect that it is true and correct. Apart from the translation made by Chee, I have had a poster examined by the Secretary of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, who states that the translation is an accurate one.

A full report in the matter was submitted by Sergeant Asquith on the 16^th instant.

[Handwritten signature:] S. P. Astill

Constable, No. 287.

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[Annotation in pencil:] Newspaper article re Chinese [illegible word] Society

R51694

[Annotation in red:] [Illegible letters] 25/2263

[Stamped in red ink ‘HOME & TERRITORIES 1925’, ‘09925’.]

[Annotation in red ink next to Home & Territories stamp:] 25/7014

[Annotation in black ink:] See also Constable Astill’s report on opposite side of this case. [Illegible initials.] 31/4

[Stamp in red ink ‘POLICE DEPT., N.S.W.’, ’31 MAR 1925’.]

[Typed report continues:] The Metropolitan Superintendent.

Forwarded. I am satisfied that the posters were manufactured and exhibited by Chee for the purpose of bolstering up his case against Wah and of eliciting public and official sympathy. Extensive and careful inquiries have been made by the Police of this Division respecting the alleged “Chinese Secret Society” but there is no vestige of truth in such suggestions. The Chinese residents in this city are generally a law abiding and peaceful section of the Community, and many prominent Chinese citizens who have been interviewed and whose integrity as respectable men is undoubted and regard the suggestion as a huge joke. The action of Chee was, of course, promptly seized upon by the sensationalist newsmongers who saw to it that nothing in the way of lurid description was unexploited in respect of the matter. There is naturally some resentment by certain sections of the Chinese here against those who convey information to the authorities concerning prohibited immigrant deserters of their race, but the idea of organised violence against informers is ridiculed by the Chinese themselves.

[Handwritten signature:] A Leary

Inspector 2/class.

28.3.1925.

[Addressed to:] The Inspector General of Police

SYDNEY.

Forwarded for information and favour of transmission to the Acting, Collector of Customs, Sydney.

[Illegible handwritten signature]

Acting metro. [metropolitan] Superintendent

30/3/1925.R.

[Addressed to:] The Acting Collector of Customs,

SYDNEY.

Forwarded for information.

[Stamped in red ink: ‘POLICE DEPARTMENT’, ‘INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE’, ‘SYDNEY, N.S.W.’, ‘-1 APR 1925’, with handwritten reference number ‘10194’ written inside the stamp.]

[Handwritten signature:] A Bramton

Acting Inspector General of Police.

1/4/1925.

[Stamped in red ink] 9 – APR 1925 P.M.

[Stamped in blue ink ‘Boarding Inspector’, with handwritten date ‘2/4/25’.]

[Addressed to:] The Secretary,

Home & Territories Department,

MELBOURNE.

Forwarded for the Secretary’s information, Original Poster as desired by the Secretary in his Memorandum herein, is attached./p>

[Handwritten signature:] W.H. Barkley

Collector of Customs, N.S.W.

6/4/25.

[Handwritten annotation in black ink at the bottom of the page. ‘Seen’, ‘S.F.P.’, ‘17/4/25’.]

[Handwritten annotation in different handwriting. ‘M Gabriel to note’, [illegible initials], ‘22/4’.]

[Handwritten annotation in black ink. ‘Noted’, ‘M Gabriel – Insptr’ [Inspector], [illegible date].]