Smokescreen

Cultural relativism is defined (encarta.msn.com/dictionary) as: "judging cultures on their own terms>"
Cultural relativism and cultural positivism are not mutually exclusive.
The main case in favour of the former, however, is that history plays a prominent role in determining a nation's laws.
This means that the current controversy concerning Iraqis who have worked for Britain and now want to live in Britain (as do retired Gurkhas) comes up against issues of cultural relativism.
Therefore the Council of Europe's activity in which it prevailed on the Japanese to allow foreign men to be allowed to live and work in Japan through marriage while at the same time (1982-5) determining that foreign and Commonwealth men should be allowed to live and work in the UK through marriage was contrary to the precepts of cultural relativism. The UK has problems peculiar to herself.
Only the UK had a Commonwealth Immigration Act in 1962 (which was supposed to have resolved the issue of immigration) and subsequently the UK brought in laws that enable foreigners to deprive indigeneous Britons of work and promotion.
Involving Japan does nothing to ameliorate the UK's predicament. Instead, it brings problems to Japan - and that is not a good thing to do.
The UK's immigration laws continue to be clouded by "smoke and mirrors". Involving Japan was a smokescreen to hide the mischief caused by the Council of Europe's actions.
If foreign and Commonwealth men did not take advantage of the UK's (unequal) laws, then there would be room for Iraqis and Gurkhas on this crowded (and sinking) island.