JAPANESE PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 194, 12 May 1924, Page 7

JAPANESE PROBLEM

UNITED STATES PROHIBITION OF

IMMIGRANTS POSSIBILITY OF ULTIMATE CONFLICT BRITAIN’S RESPONSIBILITY OF AVERTING DISASTER The London “Times,” dealing with the United States’ prohibition of Japanese immigration, says it is idle to ignore the possibility of ultimate conflict between America and Japan, and declares that Britain will probably be confronted with the supreme responsibility of averting an incalculable disaster. The United States Congress has decided now that the exclusion provision . shall become operative on July 1 next. The new law is influencing the Japanese elections, and will probably cause the defeat of the Government.

Br Telegraph—Press Association Copybight.

London, May 9

“The Times” says the United States prohibition of Japanese immigration reduces Japan to the level of other Oriental countries, and might almost be construed as a slur upon the Japanese operation of the migration agreement, which has been rigidly observed. It is idle to ignore the possibility or an ultimate conflict between America and Japan in the Pacific. , Britain, with her cherished friendship for Japan, and her indissoluble ties with the United States, will probably be confronted with the supreme responsibility of averting an incalculable disaster. She is watching every turn of' the most tremendous, problem now confronting the world, in which the latest American action marks a significant stage of development.—The “Times.” THE EXCLUSION PROVISION TO BECOME OPERATIVE ON JULY 1 (Rec. May 11, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, May 9. The Japanese exclusion provision in the Immigration Bill will become operative on July 1, 1924, under the new agreement reached between the House of Representatives and Senate’s conferences. The compromise is substantially that reported as the first, agreement of the conference, which was reconsidered in deference to the wishes of President Coolidge. The new action was made necessary when the House on Friday refused by 189 votes to 174 to approve l, 1925, as the date upon which’ the exclusion provision would become effective. The report was recommitted, with instructions to the House conferees to insist on the elimination of the stipulation that exclusion would not take effect for eight months.. The House also disapproved of the provision requesting the President to negotiate with Japan fbr the abrogation of the “Gentlemen’s Agreement.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CANADA’S ARRANGEMENT WITH JAPAN TO AVOID LEGISLATION IMMIGRANTS LIMITED TO 150 A YEAR Washington, May 9. Canada’s experience on the Japanese question is having an interesting influence in Washington ' to-day.. Mr. Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister, negotiated a new arrangement with Japan several months ago, but the official disclosure of the facts has just reached Washington. Words almost identical with those which the Ambassador unfortunately employed in addressing the American Secretary of State were ur.ed in the correspondence with Mr. King. “I wish to convey our appreciation of the friendly efforts you so thoughtfully made in order to prevent such circumstances as might have been inimical to tho friendly relations now existing between Canada andUapan.” In these words the Japanese Consul-Gen-eral addressed the Premier, who replied also with a sting in the tail of his letter, as follows: —“If an effective restriction can be voluntarily obtained, our Government will try to avoid the enactment by Parliament of legislation

which, in the light of international goodwill, might appear to be undesirable.” Japan thereupon agreed to reduce immigration to Canada to 150 per annum, which Canada accepted. Tho previous basis was from four hundred to one thousand. —Sydney “Sun” Cables.

JAPANESE ELECTIONS END OF A BITTER CAMPAIGN THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE WITH AMERICA (Rec. May 11, 5.5 p.m.) Tokio, May 9. On tho eve of the national elections to-morrow, one of the bitterest political camjpaigns in modern Japanese history is drawing to a close. More than a thousand candidates are standing for 464 seats in the House of Representatives. The immigration issue witn America, injected towards the end of the campaign, made the discussion excessively acrimonious, and attacks upon the Government came from all sides. The Seiyo Honto party, b&ng an insurgent, clique which broke from the Seiyukai t'arty four months ago, is contesting with the pin rent organisation for plurality control in the new House. The Saiyo Honto nevertheless, are regarded as a * l - A vernment Party, supporting Viscount Kiyoura, whose tenure of office is believed to be doomed as a result of the American Exclusion Act. Viscount Kiyoura depends upon a coalition of the Seiyo Honto and tho Seiyukai Parties for majority control in the House. The strength of the various parties in the late House was: Seiyo Honto, 142; Seiyukai, 138; Kenseikai, 111; Kakushin, 29; Independents, 44. It is estimated that the average cost -of each candidate’s campaign will total approximately 40,000 yen, making this also the most expensive of Japanese elections. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EFFORT TO OVERTHROW MINORITY (Rec. May 11, 11.5 p.m.) Tokio, May 10. The election is being fought mainly, if not solely, on the question whether the present privileged class Government enjoys the confidence of the country and whether the electorate endorses the illegal dissolution of the Diet. All united m an effort to overthrow the Ministry, agreement to that end having been reached by the leaders of the three, major groups, the Seiyukai, Kenseikai, and Kakushin. Separate.party programmes, such as the familiar in the West, practically do not exist, or if they do, their differences are negligibly slight, and the appeal to the electorate features the popular cry of universal suffrage, constitutional Government, and Upper House Reform *llO issue thus is purely domestic, relations, with foreign powers not being taken into consideration.

The voting passed off quietly in T'okio. but reports from the provinces indicate excitement in many places, sometimes ending in bloodshed. . The greatest interest centred in Moriokawhere Viscount Takahashi, president of the Seiyukai, is facing the hottest struggle. More than eight hundred canvassers have been arrested for alleged violation of the election law. The counting will take place to-inor-row.—Reuter.