THE DAILY PROVINCE JUNE 17, 1914 THE PROVINCE p.6 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1914 IMMIGRATION. ------------------- The problem of the Komagatu(Sic) Maru still remains unsolved and various suggestions are being put forward for dealing with the matter. According to Mr. H. H. Stevens, M.P., Vancouver’s member at Ottawa, the question of placing the control of immigration in the hands of the Indian authorities has been under advisement for some time. Mr. Stevens states that he believes this would offer the best solution of the difficulties which are being experienced. The regulations would be made to apply to settlers of whom only a certain number would be allowed in each year. Mr. Stevens’ own idea is apparently to exclude all races south of the fiftieth parallel within certain prescribed limits, which would include Japan, China and India. It may be a good plan to try something of this kind but the fiftieth parallel does not include parts of Manchuria, which is full of Chinese. Moreover, it would be rather difficult to prove the exact latitude form which an immigrant came. It might exclude all people in Hongkong and also in French Cochin China. However, these are details, all of which need discussing and Mr. Stevens is assured that his suggestion will receive attention early in the next session. But the point which has to be driven home on this question is that any arrangement which is made can only be temporary and is entirely dependent on the sea power of Great Britain. Australia and New Zealand recognise this fully and take care to protect themselves. They have universal military service and the laws they make against the immigration of Asiatics they intend shall be enforced and they will take the responsibility of enforcing them. The White Australia policy is that the continent of Australia shall be kept exclusively for the white race and this policy is effectually carried out by what is known as the language test. Every Asiatic or immigrant can be called upon to write and interpret fifty words of any language dictated to him by the immigration THE DAILY PROVINCE JUNE 17, 1914 p.6 official. As may be understood this has proved an effectual barrier to any immigrants it wishes to exclude. But Australia recognizes that it can not(Sic) keep up that test when the Asiatics will refuse to submit to it. The advent of the Komagatu(Sic) Maru has brought up the problem, especially as it concerns the Hindus. Supposing that for the time being an arrangement such as suggested is made between the Indian and Canadian governments does this mean that Canada must allow Hindu women in here? If Hindu men are allowed to come it is a crime to keep out their families. That is obvious but it is a point which needs care and a great deal of diplomacy. There are all kinds of arguments on either side with which there is no need to concern ourselves. The point we make is the same in every case. If a country believes in exclusion it must make up its mind to accept the responsibility which goes with an exclusion policy. A country can not(Sic) shriek exclusion and at the same time object to militarism or taking part in naval defence. Exclusion is a luxury for which we must pay either in cash now or else in blood, tears and humiliation when the day comes. It is absolutely absurd to take refuge in specious arguments about the brotherhood of races; the dawn of peace all over the world; Christianity and various abstraction of that nature. If the white races believe they can take great spaces of this world and absolutely debar all men not of their own color from entry therein merely because those men may be able to live cheaper than they can, they must be sensible and logical about it. Sooner or later this question, festering on either side of the Pacific, will break out into open sores. There is a great opportunity for statesmanship. It can not(Sic) be tackled in Asia only. It must be tackled here as well and the truth insisted upon. The real reason for exclusion is that the standard of our civilization must not be lowered by cheap labor. That is all there is to it. Then labor must accept the fact manfully and face the logical result boldly. It will be bad enough one day to have the industrial competition of Asia to meet without the added problem of immigration.