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124 Young St. Fitzroy.

25/10/01.

The Right Honorable Edmund Barton,

P r e m i e r [Premier.]

Dear Sir,

Wo, the Indian Community resident in Victoria, beg respectfully to bring the facts contained in this letter under your favourable consideration. We trust that if our arguments are just and honorable, then that you will lend us your assistance in a matter which is of vital importance to our welfare.

At the start of this letter we wish to ask, “What is the difference between an Indian and any other member of the British Nation?” As you are well aware, during the whole of the past century we have been members of the nation and under British Rule. We are proud to be under the wise and merciful Rule of the British Government, because we know that there is no other in the world which is so food, but we cannot understand how it is that our own Government now wish to separate us from herself and to put us as strangers along with the outside nations of the world; especially it is very painful for us to be put along with the Chinese, who are a defeated and dying race. Nobody knew before this what were the relations existing between the British Government and ourselves but considered that all people under British rule (especially those who do the bulk of the fighting of the Empire) formed part of the British Nation. But now it is shown to all the Nations of the world that we are separated by the will of the British Government; as shown in the action of the Commonwealth Government in separating us from the nation and putting us amongst the outside peoples of the world in the Alien Immigration Bill.

We respectfully ask, “What does ‘Alien’ mean?” If is means ‘outside’, we would ask, “Who has the right to call the Indian people Outsiders?” We have proved ourselves to be such valuable subjects of the British Government that all the nations of the world are jealous of Britain and are anxious to get possession of India and have us under their rule; especially Russia, of whom we have heard through out Fathers, that she wants to get us, but she cannot put her teeth on India because the Indian people are obedient and faithful to the British Government; and we have always been proud to state that we form part of the great British Nation. As has been proved no later than the present Chinese war, the Indian people are [underlined:] ANXIOUS to give their blood wherever the British Government has asked for water. We cannot all be soldiers of the Empire, but as has always been proved, whenever the Government has asked for men to fight and, if necessary, to die for the Empire, we have responded to the call, and the Government have always had more men offer than have been required. Facts like these speak louder than words. We [continued on page 2.]

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[We] would also beg to remind you that after the battle of Colenso, when the Government were asking for Volunteers here, the Indian subjects of the King, in Victoria, were willing and anxious to go to the front.

Many of us are old soldiers, numbers of us have medals, and those who are not soldiers have members of our families in the Army; but as we said before, the Government does not want us at the present, neither is there room for us in the Army; but it is an established fact that [underlined:] we are ready [end underlined text] whenever we are wanted.

We are therefore greatly pained that there is so much talk about a White Australia. Is I our fault that the Almighty God made us of dark-coloured skin, and are we (who are part of the Empire} to be cast off and put along with the Chinese and Japanese, whilst there is no mention made of the Germans, Russians, French, Italians or members of other outside nations? Have the outside nations given and done more for the British people than we have given and done? Do the Members of Parliament consider the justice of this side of the question?

In any war which has taken place, has it been the quarrel of the Indian people with someone else or the quarrel of the British Government with someone else? Yet we have always willingly done whatever fighting was asked, and have gladly borne all the hardships of same, because we have always understood that we were members of and helping the British Nation. If we are members of the British Nation, then why should we be denied equal rights with any other members of same? Other members of the British Nation can go wherever they like and do whatever they please within the limits of the British Dominion; why should this right be denied us? Is it just that the bargain be all one-sided? Suppose a father has a number of sons, but one of them is not so handsome as the others, but he is their equal in manners and obedience, and he is always anxious in every way to please his father, even to the giving of his life or the life of the members of his family. The father is pleased with this son because his manner shows care to please, thoughtfulness and obedience, but the other brothers, through some motive which has the appearance of family jealousy, do not like him to come into their houses, although the require and keep the right to go and do whatever they like in his house.

We don’t think this is fair, although the Government seem to. We do wish to prolong this letter, but trust that you will consider the main feature, as we are all anxious to know how it is that we who [word underlined:] are members of the British Nation are [continued on page 3.]

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[stamp in blue ink, reads:]

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

No [handwritten:] 27/24. 07.

[we who are members of the British Nation are] denied equal rights with any other part of fame, and are separated and put outside with others who are not members of that family. We respectfully beg that you will give this letter your favorable consideration, and thanking you for same,

We remain, on behalf of the Indian Residents of Victoria.

Yours sincerely,

Walite Shah, Priest, Miyan Mahbub Allum, X (his mark) Ramally Khan X (his mark) Mahomed Khan, Soldier, X (his mark) Horsham Deen, X (his mark) Mahomed Khan, X (his mark) Jewan Khan, X (his mark) Hakam Khan, X (his mark) Neazallie Budda, X (his mark) Chowdrey Nuttoo, X (his mark) Chowdrey Illum Deen X (his mark) Sahib Dad.