The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1907.

Evening Star, Issue 12819, 9 December 1907, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1907.

3'tck Conference shortly to be bold at Tokio between the representatives •Japanese of Japan Cimt CitniUlil IS Immigrants. fraught with more than ordinary or local interest. The self-governing parts of the British Empire arc concerned in the arrangements that may be reached. Tho possibility of the complete exclusion of Japanese laborers from British or American soil must be abandoned. Even the Pacific States of America, the centre of much of the late rioting, are recognising the. deplorable folly of their action in this regard. A great and proud nation like Japan will not submit to have her workers branded as unfit .-ifsociate cmd livo with white men nf a similar class. All that eon lio expected and all that will be granted is g mutually -agreed-upon regulation as to mruibers and quality. Beyond this Japan ; s not likely to go. It is, however. a mistake to think that Japan is anxious to get rid of her citizens. Her statesmen disavow any such intention. They are as desirous as other Powers to build -up a contented and prosperous people, in thenown land. But they insist, when and where there is an outward movement, that emigrants shall bo accorded similar treatment to that extended to tho subjects of Western nations. This may he accepted as tho primary and essential foundation of future negotiations. Total prohibition of tho Jfi.pQ.noso l)y a.py wllilc raco is riofc probable-; mutual concossions fomuilly clrawj! up a.n<J accepted arc the meet that Ciinada «r any other Uovummeut c.™ expect. Wo do not think that Canada hopes or looks for more. There has been no endorsement of the wild and ignorant anti-Asiatic outburst at Vancouver a few months ago. On the contrary. Sir Wilfrid Laurier has tendered his sincere regrets to the Emperor of Japan, has caused compensation to bo paid to the victims, and has declared that he would use his utmost efforts to prevent a recurrence of those “regrettable events.” But it was clear that tho question could not rest whore the riots had left it. Some permanent understanding had to be reached, and to this task Sir Wilfrid Laurier promptly addressed himself. Canada is in an exceptional position in relation to Jajian. On the initiative, of (he Prime Minidor the Canadian Parliament lust January passed a Bill in give (he force of law in Canada to the Anglo-Japaneso I, reap of 189-1, and tin- first clause of this treaty expressly provides that “tho subjects of each of the two high “ contracting parties shall have full liberty “to enter, travel, or reside in any part of “the dominions ami possessions of the “other contracting party, and shall enjoy “full and complete protection for their per“sons and property.” The treaty can be abrogated by six months’ notice, but inasmuch as Canada became a party thereto of her own free will, there would bo an element of shabbincss in thus slipping out of Imr self-assumed obligations. Nor lias the. Dominion the least intention so acting. Tho Premier, speaking at Ottawa, was very emphatic, ‘tabs long as be exercised power,” ho is reported to have declared, “nothing will be done to endanger tho Anglo-Japaneso alliance.” He also condemned what ho termed British Columbia’s mistaken Oriental policy. On the causes of that policy it is not necessary to dwell. They are fully known lo tho Canadian, the Imperial, and tho Japanese authorities, and while this knowledge is helpful in clearing away misunderstandings, the fact, that the. causes >nofc

malco easier the work o£ pacific and honor- ' Milo solution, Meanwhile Mr Lemioiw, Dominion iMinistci- of Labor, is on hifl TVity to Toldo to negotiate for a settlement, Viscount Aoki, the Japanese Ambassador at Washington, has, we are informed, been summoned to Japan, and Japanese statesmen and others arc already meeting to consider .the problem. It should not oo too much to hope that an acceptable way out of the difficulty will be found. Mr Lcmieux is said to bo an exceedingly accomplished and suitable representative. His wtmk. spoken in Montreal (at a luncheon given in his honor on tho evo of his departure), ring true. Inter ■ alia ho said : I take it as one of the happiest omens of the dawning fraternity of nations, as it is one of the most pleasing and picturesque inridents in recent history, that one of the youngest and most democratic among these nations should thus, with frankness and confidence, untrammelled by formalism and ceremony, and under the protecting aigis of tho mighty Empire to which we proudly belong, approach one of tho oldest and most distinguished of peoples, so that the two may x quietly take counsel together as to the policy that is best suited to the joint interests of both. This is the spirit in which 1 shirt upon the mission entrusted to me. That the representatives of Japan will meet Air 1-icmieux in an equally gracious and statesmanlike frame of mind wo have no doubt, and a conference conducted on lines thus foreshadowed cannot psovc abortive. It requires no small courage to face the agitation and prejudices of a section of tho Canadian people, but when faced the outcome is humanly certain to bo for the lasting good of both peoples.