CANADA'S FEAR OF THE JAPANESE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 223, 14 January 1911, Page 9

CANADA'S FEAR OF THE JAPANESE.

British Columbia will be practically i province of Japan if the influx of Japanese continues, says a Canadian correspondent of the London Times. Once the Japs were regarded more favorably than the Chinese. "It is not so to-day. It will be less so in the future," declares this writer. Consequently "the demand for the exclusion of Japanese immigrants has strengthened. . . . The whole white population of British Columbia is favorable to the rigid limitation or the absolute exclusion of these Oriental immigrants." We read: "With their quick intelligence, commercial energy, and industrial efficiency, the Japanese have acquired practical control of the salmon fisheries and are steadily deplacing white labor in the lumber camps. They have none of the qualities of servile labor. They assist in maintaining competitive industrial conditions. They excite a fierce jealousy and threaten the supremacy of white labor all along the coast. There are sober observers, altogether unconnected with the labor organisations and aloof from all political agitation, who insist that British Columbia must become substantially a province of Japan if the influx of Japanese continues. There is a shivering recollection of the riots at Vancouver two years ago, and a sense of imminent escape from fa: more serious results. In that crisis the Japamese fully recognised the menacing temper of the' white population, but not in any meek spirit or with any disposition to submit to outrage. Ever since it has been understood that there is red' blood in the Japanese. There is more of mutual respect, but also increasing distrust between the two races. There is also a disposition to compare the relative personal and commercial standards of the Chinese and Japanese to the disadvantage of the Japanese population." Western Canada is on the horns of a dilemma. "Pump in white immigrants," said Kipling, but where are the "white immigrants" to come from? The Dominion nas not even men enough to build its railroads. Witness the following facts given by this correspondent:— 'lt is no secret that the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company has asked the Provincial and Federal Governments for permission to bring in 10,000 or 20,000 Asiatics in bond for the work of construction on the mountain section. But, notwithstanding the company's contention that it is impossible to secure the necessary supply of labor and its pledge to deport the workmen on completion of the contracts, neither Govenment is likelv to sanction the proposal. If the Federal Government gave the necessary permission the provincial authorities would pass an act of exclusion, and reenact the measure as often as mi"ht be necessary if the power of Federal disallowance should be exercised. This would result in a period of turbulent politics, in embittered relations between the two Governments, and in immense tension between the province and the Dominion. Hence, although the completion of the rv>. ( J may )>*. materia ly delaved thiwih scarcity of labor, there is no expectation that bonded Orientals will lie admitted." However much the west of Canada may be "suli|cct to sudden and revolutionary changes of opinion," "there is streneth and consistency in its attitude towards \slatie immigration," observes this writer. "Only by the appearance of other issues can there be any material, change in the political complexion of British Columbia. In the East a fewChinese domestics arc employed, and there are many Chinese laundries, but nothing like a monopoly. Many years must elapse before Asiatic competition in any branch of industry can become an acute problem in older Canada."