Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2018

Extended Essay – fyw899

mandate, Australia and Japan were diplomatically directly opposed. The Japanese delegation

clearly underestimated the extent to which Hughes would be able to undermine their objectives.

Racial Inequality - Hughes’s Ostensible Motive

The widely regarded motive for Hughes’s actions in the peace negotiations is the domestic

popularity for a racist ideology. Hughes was determined to grandstand a local political agenda

of being seen to be a strong advocate for the White Australia policy. Essentially, Hughes’s

continued support of these white ‘values’ was a contributing factor to his success in office.

Thus, Hughes’s parochialism boosted his political standing at home. However, Hughes’s

vetoing the racial equality proposal was a humiliating, racially tinged blow to the Japanese

delegation, and one that no doubt influenced their hasty departure from Paris Peace Conference.

One can only ponder the longer-term consequences of Hughes’s’ actions when considering the

causes of the Second World War. Thus, it is important to consider how racist ideologies shaped

Australia’s diplomatic outlook.

During the early 20 th Century one of the more controversial agendas in Australia was the

treatment of foreign people. The Immigration Restriction Act (1901), which was an extension

of the ‘White Australian Policy’, is evidence of the widespread fear that Australians possessed

towards the migration of non-whites. Especially the fact that this law was one of the first

legislation actions by the Australian parliament after the federation in 1901. There is

considerable evidence that the sentiment for white exclusivity was embodied and supported by

William Hughes, who stated upon his appointment in parliament “our chief plan is, of course,

a White Australia. There’s no compromise about that. The industrious coloured brother has to

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