Evening star., 1924-09-26
In THE SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

Never in all history has the world
undertaken such a general moving
of populations as now. The prob
lens of emigration are worrying
overcrowded nations; the problems
of immigration are weighed by legis-
lators of prosperous countries.
There are no new worlds to con-
quer, no virgin territory where
pioneers can establish new nations
as did our forefathers when they
took possession of the forests, plains
and valleys of America Every mi
must pass into other countries
already organized. and they can
enter only with the consent of the
peoples of the desired havens. What
was once a contact of civilization
with savagery in the shifting of
world populations, now becomes con-
tact of civilization with opposing
civiliza ton.
The report Of proceedings of the
latest world conference on migra-
tions has just reached this country.
It was sent to Edward j. Hen
ming, Assistant Secretary of Labor
and head of the delegation which
represented the United States at the
world conference in Rome last May
called by his majesty, Victor I'm
manuel III of Italy, and Premier
Mussolini. The conference was re-
markable in it's universal representa-
ton. there being delegates from So
civilized nations-from every nation
except Canada.
In 1859 the United States held a
conference on the regulation of
migration. This was followed in 1874
with a similar one in Berlin. Ten
years later one in Holland sought
greater access of their emigrants
into other countries. In 1885 Berlin
held a conference for the suppression
of traffic in African slaves. Brussels,
in 1889, discussed the abolition OF
slavery. and in 1902 and 1910 there
were two conferences in Paris deal
ing with similar problems.
In 1905 President Roosevelt called
a conference to restrict immigration,
to which Italy replied with a con-
ference in 1908, protesting against
such restrictions. In 1912 France
gave consideration as to the best
means of aiding poverty-stricken en-
aliens.
The most significant international
development was in 1920, when two
Aires, to sift out undesirable immi-
grants, and one in Paris, to seek uni.
formity of immigration laws of all
nations. In 1921 there were confer
ences in Barcelona, Geneva and Rome
The recent great worldwide con-
ference in Rome was not for the
purpose of stimulating nor repress-
ing the world movement of peoples
but for considering more humane
and helpful ways of safeguarding
the migrants upon their Journeys
surroundings protecting them while
they are becoming adapted to new
conditions and fitting themselves for
self-support.
Italy would be glad to find asylum
for her surplus population. In the
Introduction to the Official report OF
the conference last May is this state.
ment:
Alone, perhaps. amongst the bel
1igerent nations, Italy, in spite of hel
bloody losses, enters peace with an
increase of population, compared with
whilst the Industrial and economic
crisis continues, the social glut in
creases proportionally. The impor-
tance of the crisis becomes luminous
| If one reflects that emigration, which
approached a million in 1914, fell te
less than half that number in 1923.
"Our situation had taken a tragic
| aspect, until the political clear-sight-
| edness of Benedito Mussolfni flashed
| upon the idea OF a conference on e1ni'
| grafton and immigration"
l. Australia wants %, ,o0Ao0 fnoreaset
! Spopulation-but "seiected Desirable