THE COLOR QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 95, 10 April 1908, Page 2

THE COLOR QUESTION.

EXCLUDING ASIATICS. FKOJI BIUTISH. COLONIES. London, April 8. Presiding at a meeting of the Colonial Section ol' tile Society of Arts, at whlSh a number of representative Australians were present, Sir Kichard Jebb read a paper advocating the general adoption of the Natal Act in the self-governing colonies. .*AANi«» Mr. Alfred- Lyttelton, JI.P., agreed that Sir K. Jebb's conclusion that tne self-governing colonics were irrevocably determined not to admit elfectivc competition from Asiatics was substantially true, but he proceeded to utter a grave warning. "We must he prepared for the consequences/' he remarked, "when we consider what a tremendous thing it would be for the Empire if all the races of India united against the pretensions of th» Western nations, who practically demand a monopoly for Western people in the lands of the Westerna and their free competition on terms of absolute equality with the Eastern peoples m their lands."

He felt that, though the colonies. might be able to maintain that position for twenty or twenty-live years it was doubtful if Britain would be able to support them indefinitely in a policy of Asiatic exclusion. He described as pregnant Sir R. Jebb's suggestion, that India might be compensated with fiscal freedom.

Lord Ampthill urged the need of an Imperial conference to diseuss the whole subject.

iIR. LYTTELTON'S EXPLANATION.

Received 9th, 0,35 p.m. London, April 0. Mr. Alfred Lyttelton, in a letter to tlie Times, explains in regard to yesterday's speech that he intended to convey the doubt, not whether the self-govern-ing colonics specially, but whether the. western people of the world could permanently maintain the position of monopoly in the West and equal and free competition in the East.