Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24th, 1920. AN AMERICAN PROBLEM.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1920, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24th, 1920. AN AMERICAN PROBLEM.

The big* alien population of the United States lias" always been a difficult problem to deal with, and the difficulty was intensified during the war. A short consideration of the question will give our readers some idea of what the American Government must face when considering such matters as the League of Rations and the ratification of the Peace Treaty. The latest available census returns give the population of the United States as consisting of 82,000,000 whites and 10,000,000 negroes. Of the whites 13,000,000 are of foreign birth, the majority coming- from Europe. The various nationalities gre represented as follows;

Germans 2,500,000 Austrians 1,175,000 Italians 1,343,000 Russians ... -... 1,732,000 Irish 1,252,000 British 1,200,000 The niaiority of these foreigners held widely aloof: from the Americans end endeavoured as much as possible to retain their own national customs. They hept together in certain areas, in each town and frequently published papers in their 1 oven language. With the exception of the Irish and British, who were welcomed as of kindred race and blood, the aliens were held in small esteem by the Americans, who tolerated thenr merely because they supplied an abundance of cheap unskilled labour. They have been spoken of by tlrh American press as “the backbone of America’s army of unskilled workers. ’ ’ ' Tb e trrre_ born American holds these foreigners in absolute contemptand refers contemptuously to them as is dhgos” or" ” The danger-of having such a big percentage of foreigners has always been recognised as a source of danger, and this was brought home particularly during the recent war. There ira no doubt that America’s long'delay in enterintithe struggle was due in no small measure to the fear of a rebellion

by the ' subjects of the Central Powers domiciled in the United States. Immediately the Armistice was signed and vessels were available for the trip to Europe r a big exodus of foreigners commenced, and the tide is steadily increasing. There are several reasons for this. In the first place the dislocation of industry owing to the war, and the stagnation caused in the labour market by the return of 2*000,000 American soldiers from active service, have caused a slackness in the demand for unskilled labour. This has hit the aliens severely, and their troubles have been aggravated hv the considerable rise that has taken place in the cost of living. The alien has other causes of complaint. When lie came to America he was told that lie was coming to the “Land of the Free.” To many of those foreigners this phrase was freely translated into a place where lie could do absolutely as lie thought fit. It Teas tbe.old case of libertv being translated as license. The manner in which the American authorities dealt with foreigners plotting against the Government gave the alien the first rude shock. It was conscription, however, that settled the matter. Many of the foreigners had left their own countries for America in the hope iff escaping military service. It was a deep blow to them to know that even under the Stars and Strines they could not escape their obligations to shoulder a rifle and a havonet. The passing of prohibition may be looked upon as the last straw, and the foreigners are now .going helter-skelter for Europe, where there will he at least plenty of cheap wine available. The’ exchange problem has also been a considerable factor in inducing* the foreigner to get hack to his native heath. It is estimated that the withdrawals from* the Ameri : can banks bv foreigners will amount to fully £8,000,000. The alien, generally .speaking, is a frugal liver, and was able to save a good deal during his “exile from home.” He now 1 goes hack home with his savings which, owing to the inflated currency of the dollar, will increase fully 25 per cent, on Hie journey to Europe. The United States will suffer mainly owing to the absence of cheap unskilled labour, but will gain in an increased sense of security. The ways of the gentle alien arc too drastic even for the people of the “Land of the Free.” Many of the foreigners were criminals and political exiles who made further residence in their own country rather dangerous. The shelter that they received in America encouraged _ them to continue their old plotting* and hence produced further, trouble. The overthrow of the old re gime in their native country has given them an opportunity of -returning safely. America will be all the better by the clearance.