THE WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 6

THE WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY.

The author of "The Rising Tide of Colour" can always command a hearing when he discusses the topic in which he has specialised, and Mr. Lothrop Stoddard's latest remarks on the White Australia policy and its effects deserve serious and respectful attention. But while admitting that the Australians cannot expect to reserve their great country entirely for themselves unless they can fill up its empty spaces, we venture to suggest thafcfc Mr. Stoddard takes an unduly alarmist view of the situation as it now stands. It is in our opinion a mistake to assume confidently, that the Orient is so overcrowded that its congested peoples must speedily be driven by internal pressure to seek an outlet for their surplus population. The researches of Professor Gregory and other scientists have shown that there are enormous areas in Eastern and Southern Asia practically vacant, and capable of supporting many millions in comfort. There is no reason why Japan in particular should not find scope for settlement and colonisation near her own shores. But even if the Orientals desire or prefer to settle in British or American territory, it should be possible to adjust the competing claims of East and West without recourse to "the dread arbitrament of war," Sooner or later it is possible that Europe will withdraw almost entirely from Asia. When that point is reached, the Orientals will be deprived of their best excuse for migration to Australia or New Zealand, and we see no present reason to believe that they will be ready to plunge the world into war for suoh a jorpose.