Taranaki Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1908. EAST AND WEST.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13673, 11 April 1908, Page 4

Taranaki Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1908. EAST AND WEST.

Considering the somewhat uncompromising attitude assumed by Australia and New Zealand towards Asiatics, the remarks of the Hon; Alfred Lyttelton, ex-

Secretary for the Colonies, on the subject are deserving, of close attention. Mr. Lyttelton was criticising a, paper read by Sir Richard ,Jebb/ftt » meeting of th£ pqkwiial of the S6ciety" of Acts, advocating the general addption of the Natal Act with regard to aliens by the selfgoverning colonies. He agreed with the author of the paper that the colonies were irrevocably determined to admit effective competition from Asiatics, but considered that, i&ough the colonies might be able to maintain that position for twenty or twenty-five years, it was doubtful whether Great Britain would be able to support them indefinitely in a policy of Asiatic exclusion. Subsequently he explained, in a letter to the Times, that ne intended to convey ,& d6ubt -whether the Western peoples, of the world

could permanently maintain a position of monopoly for themselves in the West and equal and free competition in the East. The warning is well-timed, for the position is indefensible. No nation, whether Eastern or Western, has a right to force itself upon another. If these colonies choose to exclude Asiatics they cannot have any complaint against ♦Asiatic countries which may retaliate by excluding Australians and New Zealanders. Mr. Lyttelton applied this principle in a wider sense, by saying that if Western nations choose to exclude Eastern people, the latter may fairly exclude Westerners from their countries. Perhaps that is opening up too wide a questipn and too remote an one to be worth discussion, but if the principle is applied, to 4he British nation it will be found to be a question > of immediate concern. British traders hay« in Eastern countries very extensive and profitable markets^ in which they freely come and go. Australians sen,d no -mr, considerable quantities of produce there, and no obstacles are placed in their way, while New Zealand has s*ent her commissioner to theEast to look for markets- for her wool, mutton, and other produce. We look upon it almost as. a right to be permitted to trade freely in Eastern countries, and wfe should regard it as an outrage if our merchants. and. ; agent 6 and others were refused admission into China except on payment of a heavy, poll-tax, or into Japan unless able, to speak and write the Japanese language. Yet the Chinese and Japanese have as much right 1 impose such conditions, as w^e, have. Western nations have, no right, as Mr. Lyttelton puts it, to practically demand a monopoly in' their own lands and an open field in Eastern lands. We have a right to say that if Asiatics cojmej here they must observe our laws;* and Asiatics have equal right to demand observance on our part of their laws if we ]go to ; their countries. Westerners may regard themselves as" Superior 'people, as the very elect if they like, and arrogate to themselves moral and

physical supremacy over Eastern nations, but the time may come when their supremacy wiU be disputed. We are not inclined to regard the "Yellow peril" as im? mediately threatening, b!Ut there is little doubt that if a sharp raoeline is going to be drawn between East and West, and if the Western nations try to maintain their present position, of demanding an open field in the East while closing their own countries against Eastern peoples conflict- will, soonqr or later arise. In many ways Asiatics are undesirable as inhabitants of this country. In any case we do not want them. We must, however, 'be just' in our dealings with, them so that we may Jiavje a clear- cxmscieivce wheii. the struggle does.comfe. ;