RACIAL PROBLEMS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18184, 22 September 1924, Page 14

RACIAL PROBLEMS.

REVIEW BY PROFESSOR GREGORY. Holding that "when different races live side by side, the more primitive race, unless conditions be imposed npon it fatal to its spirit, will outlive the other wherever the struggle for existence is keen," Professor J. W. Gregory, of tho University of Glasgow, in addressing' the geographical section of tho British Association for tho Advancement of Science at Toronto advocated exclusive territory as tho best way of treating racial difficulties, in places where the policy can be applied (reports "Science Service"). lie does not think that policy would be conscientiously adopted in the United States because of political reasons, but thinks that- it would ultimately come about by the natural drift of circumstances. The negro problem in America has, in his opinion, been steadily growing from bad to worse during the last 20 years, and none of the conceivable constructive measures for its solution Beem likely to bo put into effect. "Absorption is rejected as it would make the United States a nation of octoroons," he said, "but the infiltration of Italians and Mexicans an-1 other South European peoples, who have no repugnance toward inter-mar-riage, may lead to tho occupation of the cotton districts by a hybrid race similar to that of tropical South America. "This process would render impossible the continued refusal of political and municipal rights to any citizen who has a truce of negro blood. The coloured people would regain the suffrage, and the political development of the Southern States on normal American lines would be impossible. If the whites in tho southern States be divided between Kepublicans and Democrats, tho negro vote would hold the balance of power and owing to the considerable over-representation of the southern States in proportion to population, American polities might be determined by the negro vote. Such a situation would be intolerable to the northern and western States. Hence, to a\ r oid it, they might agree to the South-eastern States being formed into a group with a special measure of h,omc rule . in somo departments of Federal jurisdiction. . This solution may take ft century or more to develop, but the geographical , considerations indicate it as the most probable issue from the negro strength in the fi south-eastern States." In South Africa, where tho blacks outnumber the whites more than three to. one, and are increasing the faster, Professor Gregory thinks "the maintenance of white supremacy, and even of a white Afrikander people, is doubtful." The day's wages for a white labourer are about the same as tho month's wages of a coloured labourer doing the same sort of work. The rule of the white minority is threatened by the rise -of an active negro party, "largely inspired from the United States," and .increasing in numbers and influence. The speaker argued that "as whito labour is excluded from some parts of South Africa in tho interest of the negro, it would Beem only fair that the whiteß should havo a. corresponding advantage elsewhere,, and especially in districts which ware practically unoccupied., until the European entered them. Most of Africa is the home of the negroes, whoso numbers are increasing faster than any other population in the world."

But there is one continent that may be lcept exclusively for the whites and completely occupied by them. This is Australia, for Professor Gregory be : lieves that even the tropical Northern Territory can be' colonised., by white men now that tropical diseases arei being conquered and that are learning to live in hot and humid climates.