Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-28
EQUALITY FEATURE
|. STRIKES AT ROOTS
OF NATIONS POLICY
Sovereign Rights Cannot Be
Impaired, Declares Will
liam NJ. Hughes.
MUST NOT FORCE STATES
TO CHANGE THEIR LAWS
immigration, Naturalization and
Franchise Acts Would Re-
main Only Shadow.
SUCH PLAN WOULD FAIL
Refers to Situation in California to
Indicate How the Australians
Would Feel.
MUST NOT FORCE STATES
TO CHANGE THEIR LAWS
SUCH PLAN WOULD FAIL
Refers to Situation in California to
Indicate How the Australians
Would Feel.
.IRx Associated Pre.a1

BY Associated Press.1
PARTS. March 27-Premicr Hughes OF
Australia made the fat statement to
the Associated Press today that he was
unalterably in opposition to the pro-
posed Japanese racial equality amend
ment to the covenant of the league
OF nations. or to any form OF it, how
ever mild. in recognizing that principle
1t developed tonight that unexpected
obstacles had arisen concerning the
Monroe Doctrine amendment to the
league of nations covenant. making
it doubtful whether the amendment
can be incorporated in the revised
document.
Australia" Mr. Hughes said. can
not accept this proposal. which strikes
at the very roots of the policy that
We have maintained so long. which is
vital to our existence. and which we
have guarded zealously as has
America her Monroe Doctrine.
IL am most anxious to avoid any
thing likely to hurt the suceptibni-
ties of the people Of other nu tions,
but on this point since we cannot give
way, 1t is best that l should speak
plainly. We cannot agree to the laser
tion of any words In the covenant or
In the treaty of peace that would inn
pair. or even question, our sovereign
rights IN regard to any and every
aspect OIL luis question.
RECALLS THAT NATIONS
SHALL NOT SURRENDER
One of the cardinal principles OF
the leigue Is that there shall be no
| Interference in the internal affairs of
any nation. No nation will surrender
its sovereignty in matters essential to
Its welfare to enter the league.
cannot but regard the proposed
principle. under which ultimately soma
nations would find their inte rnill poll
Icy challenged by the league at the
amendment is one which, no matter
how innocuous it may seem in form
is certainly armed at giving the league,
migration, naturalization and matters
which cannot be surrendered by any
state without such impairment of Its
sovereignty as to make it. in effect. a
subject state.
III the league is able to compel a
state TO arnendc its immig ration, nat
uraliZation and franchise laws. there
remains to the state only the shadow
Of sovereignty. The substance has
dietation in such matters from the
league OF nations. Intimate problems.
belong, to and must remain under the
control Of individual nations.
CONVINCED PEOPLE
WILL NOT ACCEpr
who advocate this amendment thnt
nothing more is desired than the mere
'~NSS ~ VIC . lntS SH,'
no action is contemplated. I am afraid
TINS assurance will not reconcile The
people Of Australia. to the proposal
IL certainly does not satisfy me
thing nh or nothing, II nothing. then.
surely this something Will i"1i hot "Gs be
afhiey eyed by, mere words. stopping for
al III time short OF action. II these
the covenant mean nothing, then the
covSnant Itself means nothing.
nant' extending the rule .>of law into
the spheres OF international dispute
msans means al great deal; that It contem
all other legal documents municipai
and international. Believing this. L
amenhment proposed means nothing
and differs in essence from the Other
provisions OF tho pact.
PEOPLE FEEL As DO u
CALIFORSIA CITIZENS
keenly on this matter. We feel. i
imagine, as your people OF California
n9 90 tSe not pretend TO know int;
belief thai the Pacific Coast would be
as would the citizens OF Austraiiu
draft Of the league OF nations, which;
OF course. has not yet been discussed
by the conference and which | hope
and believe will he amended in Ger
declaring myself in favor of the at
tempt 10 substitute the rule of Law
and right for that of force. / feel
sure. however. that Australia could not
sign the covenant if IL contains any
such amendment as is proposed Words
matter little. The amendment Will be
unacceptable no matter how drafted
for Ii strikes at the root OF a policy
vital to the existence and ideals OF
Australia and it cannot be agreed to-
ADRIATIC REPORT
STARrLES CONFERENCE
Peace conference circles were dis
turbcd today over the paradoNicai
situation in the Eastern Adriatlc. AL
most simultaneously with the Italian
action in lifting the blockade in thar
region, the Serbian press published Il
decree prohibiting importation from
and eNportation to Italy. thus nullfy-
ing the Italian action. Details of tho
situation have not yet reached Paris.
The American amendment concern
inG the Monroe Doctrine and the jap
ancse racial amendment were not in.4
cluded in the covenant of tho League
OF nations as sent to tho drafting com
mittch today. The amendments NAV
be offered later at 4 plenary session
OF the peace conference or before the
council OF ten.
The Japanese delegation 10 the peace y
conference continued to press for an
amendment to the covenant OF tho
league which MID %