The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-05
viii Not Admit
japanese Coolies

Declares UnalsTaDis Oppo'
sifion 70 japanese Amend
ment
Paris. march u Coy the Assoeia tea
ress3.-William "a, Hughes, premier
eof Australia, made the fat at@'et1.sh sh'
Iha Associated Press today as "as
anaiterably in opposition 70 TIE s19
1osed japanese racial equatlsy @sleiA.s.
Iaent to the covenant Of the lesS"e oi
! ss1,ssf;ens or 10 any form Of il, ho8es1'
i1d IN recognizing that Pfi1ciPis-
=; . sA7,sfra1ia." SIR Hughes Saitl cs11a
~ ACCEPT this proposal which st.lhes
a. tJ,e verv root of the policyF we nave
( s.55soaintained 50 long. which is vital 70
Sur existence, and inch nave
ssaaraed as jealousy as mas an sasrlca ,s
Her Monroe doctrine
s::ss..T am most anxious to a:oid any
4 4 t,,;,,= likely 10 nu1t the sItscep1ipii-
lies of the people of otner nations.
but on this point, since we .can hot
{ Give away II is best that should spear
ssIn,ainIy. We c n not agree. 70 the
insertion OF any words "a the cove
ssSSsnt or IN the treaty or peace that
:.;Sro;,1d impair or even Qussrion cur
Snvere,gn rights IN regard TO a11y anu
sssvery aspect Of this question.
1One Of the cardinal principles OF
HE lsseue IS that faere snail be 40
anterference in the internal afTaifs OF
anv nation. no nation will surrender
IS sovereignty in matters essential 20
81 can not but regard the proposeS
amendment as an effort 10 eStaohsh
q princ;ple under which ultimately
some nations would find their Internal
no,icv challenged BY the league at the
I1st,sation CT one Of its members The
a:ssnendnent IS one which. no matter
how inoccuo,ls 1t may seem IN form,
is certainly aimed at giving the leaaue
control Of questions relating TO immi-
sgsratior., naturalization and matters
tEzinich can not be9 surrendered blT any
state without such impairment OF IL
sovere;snty as 20 make IL. n effect,
subject state.
esIf the league is able to compel
3. state to amend its Immigration,
naturalization and franchise laws
Ihere remains to the state only the
sshadoW Of sovereignty. The substance
has gone. No free nation could agree
~ TO dictation in such matters from the
league Of nations. Intimate problems
belong to and must remain under the
control of.Individual nations,
s5ssof course We are told by those
who advocate this amendment that
nothing more is desired that the mere
recognition Of the principle. They say
that no action is contemplated. am
afraid that this assurance Will not
reconcile the people Of Australia to
the proposal. It certainly does not
satisfy me.
Either the proposal means some
thing or nothing. If nothing, then
why insert it? IF something, then
surely this something viii not be ac-
hfeved by mere words, stopping Tor
all 4inae short of action If these words
il is desired to insert in the covenant
mean nothing, then the covenant It
d self means nothing.
~.tBut I hope and believe that the
covenant, SO far as it is, Or will be,
me neafs-of extending the rule OF Ia"
into the sphere of international dis
pntes. means u great deal: titat IT con-
templates and provides Tor action as
de all other legal documents, munci-
paI and international. Believing tins L
can not accept the suggestion that the
amendment proposed means nothing
and differs in essence from tfe ether
provisions Of the pact.
10
Eeenly on this matter. We feel /
imagine, as your people Of California
do. I do not pretend 70 know IN
timately the sentiment OF America,
bur nay observations have led me 10
the belief that the Pacific coast would
be as much opposed TO this amend
rnent as would the citizens Of Aus-
traiia.
without committing myself tG the
draft Of the league OF NATIONS, which
OF course, has not yet been discussed
by the conference and which / nope
and believe VIII be amended III Ger
tain directions, have no hesitation
in declaring myself IN favor OF the
attempt to substitute the rule oI Ia"
and right for that Of force. ieft-
sure however that Australia coulo
not sign the covenant il it contalnee
any such amendment rs is proposed.
Words matter Nttle. The amendment
will be unacceptable no matter nc"
drafted; for 1t strikes 81 the root of
a policy vital TO the existence and
ideals Of Australia and il can not be
agreed to.