The Dominion. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 13. 1913. PRESSING AMERICAN PROBLEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1827, 13 August 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 13. 1913. PRESSING AMERICAN PROBLEMS.

If there is any truth in the rumour that Japan is entering into a treaty with Mexico with the intention of sending 50,000. emigrants to that country a grave situation may arise at any moment, for the United States is almost certain to take steps to prevent such an agreement being arrived at, and the Japanese in their present temper would not be likely to submit quietly to American interference. Of course such a treaty as that indicated wotild bo contrary to the principles'of the Moniioe doctrine, but Japan may be prepared to take the consequences. This latest development of the Mexican trouble may prove another thorny problem for President Woodkow Wilson, who from the commencement of his term of office has had some extremely difficult matters to deal with. Two of the most pressing are tariff revision and tho immigration question, and if ho and his supporters in Congress arc able to reach a lasting and satisfactory settlement of these two problems they will earn an honourable place in the history of their country. The complications in connection with the reconstruction of the tariff are not nearly so troublesome as the almost insuperable difficulties arising out of tho influx of aliens and the serious racial problems which arc forcing themselves to the front with an insistence that cannot be ignored. It is not only the Japanese that are causing the trouble, but also the unending stream of people of an inferior class from Southern and Eastern Europe. Many observers are pointing out that the moral and physical type of the nation is lining lowered, and the competition of these immigrants in the labour market must bring down the rate of wages and reduce the standard of living of the workers. Immigration has been heavier this year than during the three previous years, and it is expected that the total for'the twelve months will be between 900,000 and 1,000,000 persons. There is a growing feeling that the Government must take drastic action to keep out undesirable aliens, and the antinegro movement is once morn making itself felt. The action of California in blocking the Japanese has raised a problem the solution of which is not yet in sight. It may develop into a very serious crisis, and there is a widespread feeling that a trial of strength between the United States and Japan is almost certain to come sooner or later.

Referring to the question of Japanese immigration recently tt&

Washington correspondent .of the London Times remarked: Dr. Starr Joidon of .Stanford University can protest as often ns lie pleases that Japan is tho only country lliat really likes the United Slates ami that llie Japanese 'gentleman Jits in perfectly with American civilisation; the Japanese may asseverato their belief that tho United States will give them a "square deal," but the cold fact remains, and ought io ba digested, that the avprnge American, for racial for economic reasons, has made up his mind that a permanent Japanese population is inadvisable, and would syuipallii.se with California were the Federal Ucvcrninent tu decide otherwise. Thero is for one thing the lesson of tho negro (|urctiou. Few people now suffer from (lint excess of shortsighted senliinentnlism that caused the enfranchisement of the coloured brother. So far is the 'JOth century American from wishing to experiment with another race problem that, as lia-s often been pointed out, a movement is growing for tho curtailment of non-Teutonic European immigration. Whatever may be the real facts regarding the rumoured negotiations for the establishment of a Japanese colony in Mexico, there seems to be no doubt that General Diaz has undertaken a- diplomatic mission to Japan, and that fact alone is sufficient to cause uneasiness owing to the present state of feeling in the United (States. Tho increasing friendliness between the Mexicans and the Japanese, combined with the defiant attitude which is being adopted by the former towards the American Government, points to very unpleasant possibilities. Any alliance between Mexico and Japan is certain to be regarded with great disfavour by the United States, and if it should involve, as indicated in recent cablegrams, a Japanese naval base and colonising scheme, the authorities at Washington would be almost certain to veto it. The Mexicans seem in no mood to brook American interference, and the fear that the United States may attempt -to get control, over Mexico by similar methods to those adopted in the ease of Cuba appears to have caused them to seek protection by an alliance with Japan. It remains to be seen whether the Japanese are prepared deliberately to take a course whjch could not fail to bring them ultimately into direct conflict with the people of America. Such a policy does not seem probable at present in view of the fact that negotiations arc still in progress for a settlement of the immigration difficulty; but it is quite plain that the Japanese are anxious and determined to securc a footing in the New World, and, such a policy is bound to cause dangerous friction with the United States with every possibility of serious trouble in the not-distant fu-; ture.