On Tuesday Asiatic immigration in all its bearings was discussed
by the Colonial Section of the Society of Arts after Mr. Richard Jebb had read a paper. Mr. Jebb argued that the Natal Act, imposing an education test, ought to be applied to all the self-governing Colonies. Mr. Chamberlain had recommevded it in 1897, and it had the advantage of being an elastic restraint. He also advocated the nostrum of a Protective fiscal system for India. Mr. Lyttelton said the fact must be accepted that the self-governing Colonies were irrevocably determined not to admit effective competition by Asiatics. He referred to the reports from South Africa that an attempt was being made to shut out even black indigenous labour, and remarked : "It is a strange system of world ethics which, on the acquisition of a country by invasion and the dispossession of the aboriginal inhabitants, would dispute the right of the latter to work." The question whether Britain could continue in- definitely to support the Colonies in excluding Asiatics was a very grave one. In effect, the pretension of the Western nations was that they should compete freely throughout the wholo East, while the East was to have no access to the West. Mr. Lyttelton put the case clearly and bravely. There is much to be said for having the whole matter discussed without reserve, as Lord Ampthill suggested, by an Imperial Con- ference, if necessary summoned for the purpose.
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