THE ASIATIC QUESTION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9117, 9 April 1908, Page 5

THE ASIATIC QUESTION.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. Press Association —Copyright. Received April 9, 8.25 a.m. London, April 8. Presiding at a meeting of the colonial section of the Society of Arts, at which a number of representative Australians were present, Mr Richard Jehb read a paper advocating the general adoption of the Natal Act in the self-governing colonies.[ The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, late Colonial Secretary, agreed that Mr Jebb’s conclusion that the selfgoverning colonies were irrevocably determined not to admit effective competition from Asiatics was substantially true, but proceeded to .utter a grave warning. “We must be prepared for the consequences,” he remarked, “when we consider what a tremendous thing it wonld he for the Empire if all the races of India united against the pretensions of western nations who practically demand a mouoply for western people in the lands of Westerns, and their freejeompetition on terms of absolute equality with Eastern peoples.” He felt that though the colonies might he able to maintain that position for 20 or 25 years it was doubtful whether Britain would he able to support them indefinitely in the policy of Asiatic exclusion. He described as a pregnant one Mjr Jebb’a suggestion that India might be compensated with fiscal freedom. Lord Ampthill urged the need of an Imperial Conference on the whole subject.