The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-28
NOT ID ACCEPT PROPOSED
 RACIAL EQUALITY
 ASKED BY LAPS
Will Not Agree to Any Clause Which Will Impair Sovereign Rights, Pre-
 mier Tells Asso-
 ciated Press
By Associated Press

dl 10, NA0AS SAi 6ss w 1lAcciiA M. Hughes, the premier of Australia, made the flat state ment to the Associated Press today he was unalterably in op- position to the proposed Japan csc racial equality amendment to the covenant of the league of nations or to any form of it, however mild, in recognizing that principle.
 scannot accept this proposal.
 which strikes at the very root of
 the policy we have maintained
 long. which is vital = --r exist
 ence and which we have guarded
 xcnlously as has America her
 Monroe doctrine."
 T am most anxious to avoid anything likely to hurt the susceptibilities of tho peoples of other nations but on this point, since we cannot give way, it is best that should sreak plainly. We can not agree to the insertion of any words in the covenant or in the treaty of peace that would impair, or even question, cur sovereign rights in regard to any and every aspect of this question.
 One of the cordial principles of the league is that there shall be no inter- ference in the internal affairs of any nation. No nation will surrender its sov- ereignty in matters essential to its vel fare to enter the league.
 .I cannot but regard the proposed amendment as an effort to establish q principle under which ultimately som< nations would find their internal polio! challenged by the league at the instiga tion of one of it's members. The amend ment is one which, no matter how in nocuous it may seem in form, is cen tainly aimed at giving the league contro. of questions relating to immigration, nat uralization and matters which cannot be surrendered by any State without such impairment of it's sovereignty as to make it, in effect, subject state.
 ONLY SHADOW LEFT
 If the league is able to compel a state to amend its immigration, naturaliza-
 
 to the state only the shadow of sover- eighty The substance has gone. No free nation could agree to dictation Tn such matters from the league of nations. Intimate problems belong to and must re- main under the control of individual nations.
 "Of course we are told by those who advocate this amendment that nothing more is desired than the mere recogni- tion of the principle. They say that no action is contemplated. l 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 something, or. nothing If nothing, then why insert it? If something, then surely this some thing will not be achieved by merc words, stopping for all time short Of action. If these words which it is de- sired to insert in the covenant mean nothing, then the covenant itself means nothing.
 But I hope and believe that the cove rant, so far as it is, or will be, means extending the rule of law into the spheres of international dispute, means a grea, deal; that it contemplates and provides for action, as do all other legal docu- ments, municipal and international. Be- lieying this I cannot accept the sugges- tion that the amendment proposed means nothing and differs ifl essence from the other provisions of the pact.
 The people of Australia feel very keenly on this natter We feel. I magine. as your people Of California do. l do not pretend to know intimately the sentiment of America but my observations have led me to the belief that the Pacific. coast would be as much opposed to this amendment as would the citizens of Aus tralia.
 .Without committing myself to the draft of the league of nations which of course, has not yet been discussed by the conference, which I hope and be- lieve will be amended In certain directions. have no hesitation in declaring myself in favor O, the attempt to substitute the rule of law and right for that of force feel sure, however, that Austra- lia could not sign the covenant If it con tained any such amendment as is pro- posed. Words matter little. The amend ment will be unacceptable no matter how drafted, for it strikes at the root or a policy vital to the existence and ideals of Australia, and it cannot be agreed to-