The Aliens' Restriction Act of December 23, 1919, covers the prohibitions against aliens and enemy aliens taking part in the recent war. Employment of aliens in ships of the merchant marines is especially prohibited, which provision reminds one of the enactment of the Seaman's Act of 1915. IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION ACT OF AUSTRALIA The Commonwealth of Australia amended its previous Immigration Restriction Act and assented to its amendments on December 2, 1920. This law includes a literacy test, which is, however, quite different from that of the United States. The Australian inspector at the ports is clothed with discretionary power, since the arriving alien is required to read and write in any language at the option of the official. If, for example, a Japanese or Chinese applies for admission, he is examined in Russian, Turkish or, perhaps, Yiddish, or all three. "MONEY IN POCKET" LAW OF CANADA The "Money-in-Pocket " law of Canada enacted by an Order in Council (P. C. 959), of March 19, 1921, having re-enacted the Order in Council (P. C. 2930) of 1919–20, is highly restrictive in nature, and, with similar laws to those of the United States, that country, too, is protected. "IN TRANSIT," THE WATCHWORD FOR FRANCE "In transit" has become the watchword for France since it compels its aliens "to move on " if, after a certain length of time, they cannot meet the French requirements as to their reasons for a more extended visit. Thus France may protect itself from the many aliens from whom it so willingly accepted all that was theirs to give, although opposition to its recent opponents in the war is probably the motive force. In Latin-America one learns that the Republic of Peru, by decree of October 10, 1919, restricts freedom of travel or sojourn within. its territory. The law provides that immigrants of the white race may be admitted under certain conditions if entering for the purpose of domicile. Both immigrants and transients are required to have certain documents, including the finger-printing of such papers, besides a declaration as to the motive for entrance. CERTIFICATE OF GOOD BEHAVIOR REQUIRED BY COLUMBIA Every foreigner entering the Republic of Columbia, according to Law No. 48, of November 3, 1920, must possess a passport granted to him by a Columbian consular agent. The requirements for entrance are, besides certain formalities, a declaration as to the purpose of the journey to that country and a certificate of good behavior. ARGENTINA REQUIRES PERMITS FOR ENTRANCE Argentina, too, not to be outdistanced by its neighbors, issued an executive decree in August, 1921, which is of a very restrictive and exacting nature. All aliens intending to land at any port in Argentina are obliged to be in possession of an individual permit, in addition to certain documents visaed by an Argentine consul in the country of origin. BOLIVIA COMPELS VISA, PROPERLY FINGER-PRINTED Two months later, Bolivia, by law of October 27, 1921, provided that every person entering the country should possess a passport from his native country properly finger-printed and that this document should be visaed during the foreigner's passage through the state. RESTRICTIONS ON IMMIGRATION INTO HUNGARY By a Government Order of April 1, 1922,5 Hungary, too, continues its policy of prohibiting the entrance of immigrants from its neighboring territories until July 27. The first order preceding this one was of date of July 23, 1921. RUSSIA CONTINUES THE POLICIES FOR THE RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION By a Decree of October 20, 1921, the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic regulates the entrance of foreigners into Russia, Published in Köztelek, April 8, 1922. 6 Budapesti Közlöny, August 6, 1921. by placing the passport power under the jurisdiction of Russian representatives in the countries from which the alien comes. The regulations drawn up by the People's Commissioner for Foreign Affairs govern the Soviet Consuls." Immigration is not thus generally restricted in Japan, but Japan in order to preserve its standard of living, prevents Korean and Chinese laborers from changing their status in the scale of civilization by prohibiting its manufacturers from employing them. Australia and the United States for the same reason, will not tolerate Japanese and Chinese laborers to enter their ports. OVER-POPULATION A PROBLEM FOR JAPAN An analysis of our Japanese relations shows that, by our very efforts to maintain the American standard of living, the Japanese is prevented from changing that of his country. Japan has realized that only by emigration of great numbers of its people might the remaining ones change their standard of living. It may be well questioned, however, whether this result would follow, because any attempt to relieve Japan of its over-population would probably be futile. As has been suggested, the gap caused by the emigration of its natives would, in all probability, be quickly filled by the continued high birth rate and no improvement could follow in the standard of living. On the other hand, a great improvement in the standard of living among the laborers in England was shown after the Black Death of 1348-50 when one-third to one-half of the population were wiped out. Like all such visitations, it attacked the poorer classes in greater proportion than the wealthier ones, and a great scarcity of labor resulted. Labor service at that time was of a feudal character and laborers immediately commenced to migrate to improve their standard of living. Evidence of this fact is shown by the laws enacted year after year to prevent the laborers from changing their residence. To protect ourselves against a lowering of our standards, we pass legislation on the Pacific Coast against the Japanese Immigrant, and by that act prevent Japan from changing its condition. Japan resents these measures and a hostile feeling is engendered which may have a far-reaching political effect. It is to our interest. 7 See Bolletteno della Emigrazione, January, 1922. to maintain our standard of living but this act compels the standard of Japan to remain stationary, and thus that country is confined within its own restricted area. Every nation aims at the protection of its own people by restrictive immigration to maintain its standard of living; yet the net result is that all other nations are thereby prevented from changing their standards. CHAPTER XVI INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION International administration of national governmental policies in the fields of economics, public utilities, and statecraft. A coordination of national agencies in all the countries of the world in the administration of tariff and immigration legislation. The result of this policy in the elimination of waste and duplication of effort involved in the present universally nationalistic policies. A plea for the extension of this phase of world development. THE PRINCIPLES SOUNDED BY PRESIDENT HARDING If, then these present policies, of restriction of immigration by means of the literacy test, the Percentage Immigration Law, and prohibitively high tariff legislation, be narrow so far as other nations are concerned, and, in the final analysis, harmful to the nation itself, what suggestion is there for a wiser national procedure? There remains that which always endures when mere selfinterest fails. If working only for ourselves as nations, we do not ultimately really benefit ourselves, there is left the possibility of working with others for the interests of all. International co-operation remains. The principles of cooperation were sounded by President Harding when he appeared before the Congress of the United States in Joint and Extraordinary Session on April 12, 1921. He spoke of the American aspiration as, "binding us in conference and co-operation for the prevention of war and pointing the way to a higher civilization and international fraternity in which all the world might share." DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD RELATIONSHIPS International co-operation as a national governmental policy in world economics is not altruistic and visionary, advanced by a small group of economic and social thinkers, nor is it a subject |