Abstract
In early 20th century Britain, the basic tone of immigration control changed from an "open door" to "restriction", with the Aliens Act 1905 serving as an historical landmark in this shift. This article traces changes in the influx of immigrants and the resulting interest in the "Aliens Question", and considers the intention of the Aliens Act, namely the logic affirming "state intervention" in restriction of immigration. Anti-foreign public sentiment was a response to the inflow of poor immigrants from Eastern Europe, who came to live in the East End of London. The increase of poor immigrants aggravated existing social problems, including sweated labour, overcrowding, pauperism, and criminality. The movement to restrict immigration, together with the tariff reform movement, claimed to be ways to protect the employment and lives of British workers against the flood of immigrants. The Aliens Act claimed to restrict "undesirable immigrants". This article argues that the public discourse about the "Aliens Question" and the legislation of the Aliens Act came at a time when Liberalism was challenged, doubts were being raised about free trade, and "state intervention" was seen as a way to deal with social problems.
