LETTERS TO THE . EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suitable length is that of one of our " News of the Week" paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym.—Ed. TILE SPECTATOR.]
PLANNED EMIGRATION
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—A few weeks ago The Times did me the honour of giving prominence to two letters on the problem of Emigration and Settletnent. The immediate result, in addition to those correspondents who wrote to The Times, was to bring a large number of letters, pamphlets, draft schemes, &c., all in suppoit of an imaginative and scientific scheme of emigration as the biggest contribution towards the solution of world economic difficulties, relief of unemployment and a strong factor for world peace.
At last week's plenary session of the I.L.O. in Geneva a petition was presented on behalf of seven millions of unem- ployed persons under the age of 25 years in several European countries. This despite the fact that there are whole con- tinents less than half populated. Before the War from 250,000 to half a million left these shores annually to settle in other lands. That outflow has ceased and the flow is the other way. To express it moderately a large part of the army of unemployed in this country is the result.
Before the War the outflow of persons from the United Kingdom for settlement overseas was a great safeguard against the undue congestion of population. The population goes on increasing in the usual way with an added increase owing to the serious diminution of migration. Why has the fact that it is not so much bad trade but congestion of popu- lation that lies very deeply at the root of our economic and unemployment problem not been made clear ? There should be a world conference of governments to discuss this problem, failing that, a conference of the governments of the British Empire to deal with the subject as it affects the Empire.
This is not a question to await more prosperous times ; it is an occasion to help hasten more prosperous times and calls for faith and courage. Revival of trade and industry will not solve the problem of unemployment. Let trade return in full volume under modern conditions and the door to the wider world closed, the army of unemployed will remain in possession of the field.
An early resumption of oversea emigration and settlement is a way out. The best method of ensuring successful settle- ment overseas is by establishing complete settlements from particular districts whether a village in South Wales, Durham or any other part of the country. Such bonds will hold the community. Large scale group settlements will cost money and much money, but' it will at least give a better return than is resulting from the steady drain not only in material wealth as in the still more serious loss in spiritual, moral and physical character and health of some of our best manhood and womanhood. Such group settlements to be subsidized by the Home and Dominion Governments until the settlements are established. Not subsidies to individuals, but in necessary plant, machinery and technical guidance, material, food and amenities until able to stand alone.
Other important factors to which I can now only pay passing reference are :
.1. That in about 12 months time an additional 400,000 young, people will leave the schools and be thrown into the welter of. unemployment.
2. For some years past the balance of emigrants entering the Dominions has been other than British, and in some parts, of Canada . English is not spoken. , There is a very real (larger of - anti-British populations possessing the Dominions unless renewed from the old stock.
The pressure of population in Italy, Germany and Japan is not without import to the British Empire. Is it reasonable to expect that great nations will for ever acquiesce that continents should remain half empty and no effort be made to build up a' populhtion and develop the material resources ? Apart from the morality of such dog-in-the-Manger policy it is bound to be a potential cause of Wan—Yours faithfully,
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