x6 THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM
must secure territory or must have the opportunity
to relieve pressure at home through the exporting of
surplus Japanese population. Such a demand raises
many serious questions. What moral right, for exam
ple, has a nation with a low economic standard and a
rapidly increasing population to impose its surplus
upon more favorably situated countries wherein a
more reasonable birthrate prevails? For example,
have Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Amer
ica or the United States a moral obligation to take
care of the surplus population needs of other coun
tries? Does emigration from Japan or Italy under
such conditions help in permanently alleviating con
ditions at home? Is not the problem rather that of
restraining population increase?
Many countries are opposed to the emigration of
able men in their prime. They have had the expense
of raising them and fitting them to become self-sup
porting wage-earners. If at the period when they are
just beginning to be productive they emigrate, the ex
pense of their rearing is an absolute loss.
On the other hand, so far as they believe that the
emigrants are going to the United States to remain
but a short period, and in the meantime to send back
to the home country their surplus earnings, and then
later themselves return, the foreign governments are
willing to encourage their going.
Effect upon the United States of the Return to
Europe of the Immigrant
It can hardly be said that taken by itself the send
ing back to the old country of the savings of the
immigrant is directly an injury to the United States.