ment that present knowledge justifies. There is much uncertainty about the whole matter. As the author says later in the article quoted: "We need more knowledge, which can only come from more, much more scientific study." In the meantime, the various nations act on what knowledge they have, diluted perhaps by social prejudice; but in any case they should be upheld in efforts to keep out undesirable individuals in any group or race.

MELTING-POT NOT A POPULATION SOLVENT

The old American idea of the melting-pot as a population solvent has been pretty generally abandoned, and the newer idea that there is a Gresham's Law for people as well as for money is taking its place. What the biologists call poor germ plasm has a way of persisting that may well cause even the most besotted optimist to hesitate before again opening wide the national doors. Industrial development can be too costly. It is too costly when it is achieved at the expense of a strong race of men. It is platitudinous to say that physical and moral integrity should mean more to a land of free institutions than all the treasure that can be dug from the earth, and should never be sacrificed for exports. Yet our industrial practice has usually been opposed to this principle. When production at any cost becomes a nation's god, it were as well that oblivion should come quickly. Better far is the attitude of Australia when she refused to develop her sugar plantations with labor which she did not want from New Guinea. It was contended that only colored men from the tropics could raise sugar-cane on the northeast coast and survive. Then replied Australia "We will not raise sugar-cane to the detriment of our nativeborn." The contention of absentee capitalists, however, proved incorrect since white men are now doing the work successfully. That is one instance where a nation put higher considerations ahead of material prosperity. It is true that racial prejudice of itself has an ugly mien, but when its semblance is born of a desire to maintain intact standards or principles for which some men have bled and died, many feel that it takes on a

less sinister aspect. Each race in turn as it rises to supremacy superimposes its ideals upon the world; and if, after experimentation, these fail, they must be discarded in favor of others better adapted to the times. This is the hour of the white man's triumph and he is putting his theories of social and political control to the test.

TREND OF LEGISLATIVE IDEALS

Immigration legislation seems to have veered away from the sentimental ideal. A distinct trend is now apparent toward regard for the future welfare of the nation, and so of the world. If self-preservation is the first law of physical life, it is as surely the first law of national life. This principle seems to be indorsed by the seven countries studied, albeit somewhat haltingly by the United States. Here the idea that this is a home for the world's oppressed dies hard, and this is historically justifiable. The United States has set the pace, both in spirit and legislation, for other immigrant-receiving countries. Her nearest neighbor, Canada, has been most affected, with the result that she has now to face most of the problems which have arisen in the United States, but with a much smaller native population to meet the impact of what might easily become a proportionately greater alien invasion. The other British dominions have guarded themselves against such an eventuality.

DIVERSITY OF AIMS APPEARS

So far as this discussion has proceeded, the various nations may be said to have common aims. Beyond this point there are divergences. The countries belonging to the British Commonwealth of Nations not only desire to be English-speaking and white but also dominantly British, and this attitude is reflected in their legislation. This is Empire loyalty carried to its logical conclusion. If the ideals and institutions of the homeland are good, what better endorsement of their worth can there be than that the self-governing colonies should

desire to perpetuate them? But British outposts can be maintained only by the protecting arm of Britain. It is thus that Australia can make good her vigorous resistance to peaceful Asiatic invasion. The eagle eyes of swarthy land-hungry millions are ever turned upon that great and sparsely settled continent, but they are turned in vain.

COLONIES LOOK TO GREAT BRITAIN FOR HELP IN MAINTAINING POLICY

The establishment now being undertaken by Great Britain of a naval base of vast proportions at Singapore 2 will do more to help Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa to realize their national aim of remaining essentially British than all the restrictive legislation those countries could enact in a century. This is the protecting parental arm. But it is not alone the millions of China, Japan, and the islands of the South Seas that will be kept at home by the contemplated naval base. The equally objectionable East Indians will appear less menacing, for within the British Empire itself there is race discrimination. None of the great self-governing dominions will admit Hindu laborers. The right of citizenship within the Empire breaks down at this point.

THE CASE OF KENYA

Contradictory as this may seem, the various countries within the Empire may refuse to recognize common citizenship of persons swearing allegiance to their own crown. They may even bar them from admission to their territory. A British subject, in other words, may not be allowed to enjoy the privileges of a British subject in all parts of the Empire.

Since the above was written, a Labor Government has succeeded to power in Great Britain and all work has been ordered stopped on the ground that the millions required are needed at home, and later with the Conservatives in power it appears that work will be continued.

See "Britain's Imperial Problem in Kenya Colony," by Llewellyn Powys, Current History Magazine, September, 1923, and also, New Republic editorial, August 8, 1923, page 273.

He may have them, for example, in India and not in Australia. The practical reasons for such procedure in regard to East Indians have already been discussed in connection with immigration in the several dominions. The question is at the present time coming ominously to the front in the case of the British East African country, Kenya. East Indians have been pouring in there at a rate disturbing to the 10,000 or more white settlers who occupy the desirable highlands. The native colored population numbers several millions. About 30,000 Indians are now demanding equality with the whites. Because of what seem to be insuperable local difficulties this has been denied them by a memorandum of the British Government, and the agricultural lands in the highlands have been reserved for white immigrants. The present arrangement seems to leave the white group in control. The legislative Council consists of eleven white members, five Indians, and one Arab. Kenya not being a self-governing colony, such matters are referred to the home Government for settlement.

ENGLISH-SPEAKING NATIONS DESIRE LITERACY OF IMMIGRANTS

A distinct aim that is seen in our English-speaking nations is the effort to establish some standard of literacy as a prerequisite to admission into the country and to the privileges of citizenship. While no formal test of what a man knows can ever be satisfactory as a determinant of inherent worth, it reveals, after all, a hint of his perseverance amid favoring circumstances. It is not too much to expect that people seeking homes in self-governing countries should be able to read and write their own language. Australia goes even further than this and says they must be able to write from dictation in English. It took the United States many years and much acrid controversy to enact a law containing even a reading test and that in any language. Canada and South Africa have followed the United States, while New Zealand has to a degree patterned after Australia. The South American

'Mr. Powys's book, Ebony and Ivory, deals with life in Kenya.

republics have not yet been in a position to insist on literacy, although they are extending opportunities for free education within their borders.

ALL COUNTRIES EXCEPT THE UNITED STATES NEED SETTLERS

With the exception of the United States, the primary aim of all the countries included in this study is to attract settlers who will develop their agricultural resources. For this they frequently offer to desirable persons special inducements, including free or assisted passage, free or low-priced land with easy terms of payment, money advances if necessary for equipment and to tide the settler over until after his first harvest. There is unanimity of opinion about the wisdom of attracting the best possible type of settlers. In these countries, industrial immigrants are not wanted. In the United States, the situation is different; here capitalists are eager for more unskilled alien labor, while labor organizations are equally eager to prohibit its entrance. The general public is divided in its opinion, with a probable majority in favor of restriction. Where there is a constant influx of unskilled aliens there is always a margin of unemployment, which, in times of business depression, assumes menacing proportions. It would seem under such circumstances, especially in view of the attitude of capital toward immigration, that unemployment should be a legitimate charge upon business itself, as industrial accidents are, and not upon the charitable agencies supported by the public. The difficulty of establishing such a policy, and enforcing it if it were established, make our present restriction seem the only practicable plan.

ASSIMILATION OF ALIENS A PROBLEM OF GREATER OR LESS DEGREE IN ALL COUNTRIES

The main problem to be observed in all lands has to do with the assimilation of aliens. There are administrative problems in every country, it is true, and these may become serious where great numbers must be handled, as in the United States.