TO CONTROL IMMIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 145, 20 June 1924, Page 7

TO CONTROL IMMIGRATION

AMERICA'S REPLY TO JAPAN

TREATY POSITION.UNAFFECTED.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(KEUTER'S TELEGIUJI.)

.WASHINGTON, 18th June.

The State Department has published the reply made by Mr. C. E. Hughes, Secretary of State, to the Japanese Government's protest against the exclusion lav.'. ■• The United' States declares that the legislation affects neither the. letter nor the spirit of the Treaty of 1911, nor does it violate the "Gentlemen's Agreement.!'

Mr. Hughes asserts that the-Presi-dent desired to deal diplomatically, but was unable to go beyond Congress. He observes that the exclusion' provision does'not materially differ hi operation or policy' from th e "Gentlemen's Agreement," aud says: "The Government fully and gratefully appreciates Japan's voluntary assistance in executing a long established policy, which evidences no lack of esteem of the Japanese character and achievements. . . . The important change is the determination of Congress to exercise its prerogative of legislating on immigration." .

'Mr. Hughes points out that the Government does not feel itself limited, by 'prior' international arrangements. Furthermore, .existing negotiations and past negotiations do not impair the full liberty of action _ol either party.

Reviewing the treaties, Mr. Hughes points out that the United States was careful to negative any intention that the Treaty of 1911 should derogate "from the full right to discretionary control of immigration, which right Japan had unhesitatingly asserted domestically..

Mr. Hughes expresses regret that the action of Congress allows no latitude to exercise Executive's discretion, ' and acquiesces in Japan's view that Japan is released from furfiser obligation. In conclusion, ho expresses, the conviction that the recognition of ilia right, of each Government to legislate in control of immigration should not derogate from the mutual goodwill and cordial friendship which have always characterised their relations.