The Washington times., 1914-06-21

! entails if they can find the means to
do it.
1t was this determination to mann
tain the standards of ''white mans
country" hat caused the Australians
to extend such enthusiastic recep-
iion to the American battle fleet
when that armada visited the South
seas. The truth is that the outlying
sections of the British Empire are
solidly in sympathy with the Pacific
States Of our own country. If there
should ever be rupture between the
United States and Japan over the
race issue, the Pacific and African
possessions of Britain would be on
the side Of America. Their senti-
ments would be so powerfully re-
tEscted at Westminster, moreover,
that Britain would in the end have to
remain neutral. or side with the
American cause. The penalty for do
ing otherwise would be the grave
danger of disruption of the empire.
The most casual reading of Brit
ish newspapers. for years past, with
their cable advices regarding the de-
velopments of the race issue in
various British dependencies, would
make this conclusion unavoidable.
Intelligent understanding of the
worldwide character of this contest
between Oriental and Occidental
must impress the fact that the diff
ferences between the United States
and Japan really constitute just an
incident.
How gravely this set of questions
is being regarded by the imperial
authorities is suggested by the edi-
torial comment of the London Times
, in the issue of June IL. 1t surveys
this problem ip its world-aspects, as
, touching the empire on every border
and demanding the understanding
attention of the home government:
Evidence of the intense feeling Of the
people Of the dominions upon the Asiatic
question accumulates almost daily
Canada is being compelled at this mo-
: ment to face il in its most aggressive
: form. South Africa has struggled. af.
ter long years of controversy involving
much lamentable suffering on bott
, sides, to compromise that gives prom
. Use of holding good for some time tc
come. Incidents in Australia and New
4 nd az \r1rl H.. har
: sions with which 1t inspires them. One
{ such incident Is the subject of a mes
sage from our correspondent at Wei
> lington. New Zealand. which we publish
4 on page 47S Early in May Gen. Sir lar
Hamilton made a speech at Auckland il
2 which he described the Pacific ocear
{ as the meeting place not Of nations
but of continents" where 'ft may bs
are going to decide the destinies of thu
world" The speech evoked some ad
l verse comment in Japan.
On Monday a deputation waited OF
f minien. % to susgest ss tat aF his 90 e @
t0ui to eSpIaRf1 sRDsrs Sir Ian az ' Hsmiltons to state
eEss he issue M il sSSud had we San5ss nssn.
have been easy for him to dis lain an
responsibility for anything said by 81
II SeT zsas5d was oGs lo
5 and report on the defense force. Mr.
Massey condescended to no such evasion
He said bluntly that he would not re
= eminent which did anything of the sor
. On the contrary, he implied that IN
n New Zealand defense act had for II
:. motive the fear Of Asatic attack. an
, | mission by a statement that nc hope'
= next session TO pass Legislation promt
S iting the entrance Of Hindus into Ne'
Zealand.
S Housekeeping Englishmen may b
o surprised at what may well seem L
them a tactless and aggressive state
D ment of the views held by a Colonia
n politician on so delicate an issue. De
precating murmurs would most pro
: ably greet such a declaration made b
a member OF the Imperial cabinet any
1 where within the British Isles. Ye
= | sentiments of the kind expressed b
i | large majority Of the oversee peoples
| They have made their homes in coun
. | tries which attract the Asiauc lmml
grant In some cases, admittedly, the
have themselves created this attractio
by the use of indentured -Asiatic labor
But they hold with a tenacity charaC
teristic Of their race that Asiatic In
: migration on any large scale is likel
, 10 be an obstacle TO progress on BIRTHS
lines.
[ This conviction is at the root of thei
opposition TO the influx Of Asiatics.
is not merely selfish opposition. 4
n | tne same llIne IneN are dCulelN cor
scious that II involves grave impeTi5
: difficulties. The debate in the Sout
i African parliament on the second read
ing of the bill to remedy the grievance
| of the Indian community shows hot
q potently imperial loyalty affects locs
interests in such matters. Both Nj
I Merriman. the doyen Of South Africa
O politics. and General Botha, prime mir
lister of the union. insisted on the dut
n of the Kings subjects in the outer er
g pire to hold the balance between the
local interests and their imperial obligs
e tions. We have no doubt that. as gu
:. correspondent at Cape Town predicts
u this view will prevail. But 1t is esser
= tiaI that we in this country should n
he lacking in appreciation Of what ma
be called the dominion point Of view
: The day of a final settlement OF the As
attic difficulty as 1t touches the oonill
+ IONS Is not vet Till II comes. the over
: sea peoples must not be allowed I
doubt that they are secure in the mes
[ terry of their own houses.