The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-10-19
BRITISH COLOR
Line BARS HER
BLACK SUBJECTS
Police Card Has Their
Nationality Doubtful"

LONDON-(By Mail) - The de-
spicable Color Bar Act" recently en-
acted in the Union of South Africa,
which is an outrage on the most
rudimentary principles of justice, has
led to considerable adverse criticism
in the British press. This criticism,
however, is evidently not so much
If at all-due to the injustice of this
act as it is to the fear Of the ma
tionalistic spirit of the present gov
eminent Of South Africa.
In general it is implied that this
act is reversal of the empires pol
Icy but the reversal, If such, is in
method only. While focusing the at
tention on South Africa the example
Of British liberty and fair play" in
the mother country (of the Hotten-
tots?) goes UNDECIDED.
A Representatives. Decree.
"The Special Restriction (colored
alien seamen) Order 1925" signed "W.
Joynson-Hicks," notorious red-baiter,
is not less unjust because Of its cam
ouhaged phTaseology. This order is
as much discrimination against col
or as is the South African Color Bar
Act: it is only more subtle in its
application.
It compels colored seament to carry
an Identification card bearing photo
and description, and must be stamped
by the police whenever the bearer
signs on and pays off a vessel in the
United Kingdom. Failure to comply
with this police registration may
mean deportation. Its scope of appli.
cation puts a new phase on the word
"alien'-making it practically synony.
nous with the world color.
NatIonaIlty'"DoubtfuI."
Colored seamen born within the EN-.
pire who have made their homes in
the United Kingdom for 30 years or
more and who have been officially rec
ognized as British up to April the 9Th
1925, when this order came into
force), are now classed as of no OF
doubtful" nationality; colored sea
men who served in the imperial army
and navy during the great war as Brit
ish-born subjects and seamen of color
born in England of English mothers
are not exempt. unless they have g
passport.
To obtain passport, which is evi
IDENTIFY the only evidence of British ma
tionaltty aces ted to exempt the indi
vidual from this "alien" registration
has its unique features in this case
This may perhaps be best illustrated
by citing case:
A Case in Point.
This man was born in the British
West Indies. He was married in Eng
land some 20 years ago, and has sailed
from the United Kingdom on British
vessels ever since. He has a British
war identification card bearing hi:
photo and description and declarins
his nationality to be a British-borr
subject. Also, he has a board of trade
seamans discharge book as corrobo
rating evidence.
He applied for a passport present
ing these as evidence of nationality
and was informed that he must pro
duce his birth certificate. When h,
obtained his birth certificate he agair
applied for a passport and then re
ceived the information that as q sea
man his discharge book was quite SUI
hcient; that passport was unneces
sary and is not therefore, issued to
seaman in following his occupation
No Nationality After All.
But, in order TO follow his occupa
ton he had to register as an salien
and his registration card gives hi
nationality as doubtful"
Colored seamen who have British
passports are exempt from the ruin,
Of this order, but the position of thos,
who are not so fortunate cannot b,
Justly classified as other than dis
elimination because Of color.