Altruistic Insincerities

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 7

Altruistic Insincerities

AMERICAN IMMIGRATION AND BRITISH COLONISATION United Press Association— : By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyrlgh t. Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 3. Mr. Theodore Roosevelt (son of the former President of tho United States) delivering the Watson Lecture at the London University, vigorously commented on the current topic of colonies, declaring that it was customary for America to explain her former open door policy towards immigrants as an altruistic desire to give a haven to the oppressed, while Britain pleaded the urge to take up “the white man’B burden" to explain the acquisition of colonies. Both statements were insincere. Britain seized colonies for material gain and America permitted free immigration because industrialists saw that the inflow of cheap Is,hour would increase their profits. But; they were unaware that such immigration was to create endless iuture problems. Colonies in many instances were a continuous loss or a doubtful economic asset. Italy spent 1,300,000,000 more lire controlling her colonies from 1913 to 1932 than she got in gross trade during forty years. The German record wa3 a similar story and it was much the same for France and Japan. Britain’s record was muen better largely owing to Dominion trade.