Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22

lands, both swamp and upland The
state of Sac Paulo hopes to develop this
agricultural industry SO as to form a
more important source Of wealth, and
the japanese coolies are excellent rice
cultivators 1t is yet to be shown that
they will be content to stay in the posi-
tlon after one or two seasons. That will
partly depend on whether they can do
better by scattering and finding other
employment.
1t is the testimony of a number Of
foreign observers that, notwithstanding
the plan Of establishing Japanese villages
with Buddhist or other temples, the
Japanese coolies prefer to scatter. They
are less concerned with preserving their
national identity apparently, than with
lettering their condition as individuals.
Yet it is not improbable that some Of the
colonies may succeed and that in time
they may occupy position somewhat
similar to that of the German colonies
in Santa Catalina, which have retained
their language and national customs in
isolation from the Brazilians. 1t is a
fact that in some of these German set
Elements native servants are compelled
to learn German because the families
which they serve have not learned Por-
tuguese. The German colonies in Brazil,
however. occupy a very different position
from the Japanese. They were formed
by a genuine immigration movement and
were composed of thrifty Germans and
not of cooiie iaborers.
/ asked several Americans and Euro-
peans who know the local conditions how
the Brazilians in the districts where the
Japanese were placed looked upon Ash
attic colonization. From the replies 1t ap-
peared that at first 1t was regarded with
curiosity and then with mild hostility.
The Brazilians Of the country districts
are somewhat primitive themselves in
their social customs, but they were not
accustomed to some of the features of
primitive Japanese life Of which travel
erS through japan few years ago used
to write somewhat guardedly. While this
was the feeling of the Brazil.ans, there
were no marked manifestations Of hos
tility. racial or otherwise.
An American who knows rural Brazil
told me that the people disapproved of
the Japanese immigration. but they ac-
quiesced in it. They did not get excited
over II.
On the part of the state of Sac Pauio
the explanation given Is that the Jap
anese colonies are ENCOURAGED as part OF
the general immigration policy Of secur-
ing population to develop the agricultural
and other resources OF the state. Popu-
lation is what Is wanted, and by pref
erence population from Europe.
European immigrants are eagerly
sought. and the state has adopted various
measures for securing them. Italians have
come In very large numbers, and in time
they are likely to be the preponderating
element in the population. but, with all
that has been done and is still done to
secure European immigrants. there Ia
still deficiency OF labor. and especially
of agricultural labor. Consequently. the
plan of meeting the deficiency by obtain
ing Asiatic labor was adopted. The ON
ciais Of Sac Paulo do not seem to be
expecting that the Japanese immigration
ever Will become large enough to over
balance the native population.
A query may be raised as to the action
of a state in adopting policy OF Asiatic
immigration without regard to the ma
tional bearing of the subject. The federal
government, however, acquiesces In the
Sac Paulo policy. The reason Is that I'M
der the political system Of Brazil there
is nothing else for the federal government
to do. Under the Brazilian constitution
the federal authority Is loose and the
states are practically sovereign. Even If
this were not the case, SO powerful a
state as Sac Paulo would compel the
national government to recognize Its
wishes.
internationally. of course, Japan does