ASIATICS IN THE COLONIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8650, 3 August 1908, Page 7

ASIATICS IN THE COLONIES.

DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. IMPERIAL OPINIONS. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Per Press Association. , LONDON, August 2. In the House of Commons, Lieut.-Col. Seely (Colonial Under-Secretary), on tho motion for adjournment to October 12, admitted that the Asiatic question in the colonies was overwhelmingly important. The whole future of the Empire depended upon the present steps and a false move might shatter it. Great Britain ought not to adopt a superior tone towards the colonies. with whom tho question was more acute than in.Europe. "Wo are bound to admit that the self■governing colonies could exclude whom they would and we could' not interfere," he continued. "Certain principles, however, might be laid down; if immigrants are admitted they must sooner of later be given civil rights; they must be admitted free or not at all." If self-gov-erning colonies sought to exclude Britsh subjects owing 'to economic reasons—to prevent wages being cut down —or because of climatic conditions, or social anipathy and the causing of riots, they ought at any rate to treat- with the utmost generosity, tho coloured immigrants already there. The Imperial Government asked that for them, and the request had been met by Canada in the friendliest spirit. He was confident that the Governments of Australasia anfl South Africa would show the same spirit in realising the necessity for mutual forbearance. He agreed that the Imperial Secretariat should take tho matter up and he believed it- was' necessary to make the Secretariat, real, namely, the clearing house of the Empire, where all the different. law's might be examined and reported on, enabling every part of the Empire to know what was being done in other parte. Sir Gilbert Parker said it was essential that the structure of National life should be built from the beginning by whites; otherwise it would be rotten. Col. Seely's words would bo re-echoed in every oornor of the Empire, added Sir Gilbert, and he commended the Government for taking tho right view of appealing to the colonies and conferring with them.