JAPANESE EXCLUSION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 September 1924, Page 15

JAPANESE EXCLUSION.

OF VITAL INTEREST TO HAWAII

Writing on the above subject, a resident of Honolulu says: “The Japanese Exclusion Act, passed by the last United States Congress, is of vital interest to the territory of Hawaii. Pearl Harbour, Honolulu, is Uncle Sam’s largest and most important outpost and naval base, and the 110,000 Japanese nationals resident in the Hawaiian Islands make the problem an interesting although difficult one.

“It is impossible to live in this territory without gaining some idea of the state of feeling existing among the Japanese since the Exclusion Act was passed. _ Needless to say they are deeply mortified and hurt, and * can hardly believe that the legislation directed at their nation has become a fact. For very many years past very prominent Americans and Japanese, including, church dignitaries and scholars, have worked hard to effect better relations between the two nations. The Protestant Episcopal Church of fhe States, together with many other church organisations, have spent millions of dollars annually in spreading the Gospel of Christianty in Japan. The Japanese Government has allowed these missionaries a free hand in their work. As most people are aware the average Japanese embraces the Shinto religion as his state faith, applying the teachings of Confucius and Buddha in his daily life. All those workers in Japan, as well as those people commonly known as Internationalists, have talked equality of nations until many Japanese have believed that the great Eastern world looked upon them as brothers. That the United States, the nation above all which had always shown such kindness and consideration to Japan, would tear up the Gentlemen’s Agreement and substitute legislation without formal discussion with Japan, was unthinkable.

“The Japanese at first were incredulous, then angry, and it is this emotion which is now the dominant feeling, not only of the Japanese in Japan but of Japanese living in Hawaii and continental United States. California, in fact the whole Pacific Coast of the United States, has fought hard for this legislation, which was promised them by President Roosevelt in the event of the Gentlemen’s Agreement not working satisfactorily. And this is the crux of the question to-day between Japan and the United States. Japan avers that she has kept faithfully to the terms of the agreement, biit there was plenty of evidence submitted to the Committee on Immigrator Le Baron B. Colt, which sat in tion under the chairmanship of SenaWasKington on March 11, 1924, to try and prove that Japan had deliberately avoided keeping to the strict letter of the agreement. Senator Phelan, as well as Mr V. S. McClatehy, editor of the Sacramento Bee, contend that the census to-day proves that- there must have been an influx of Japanese, and that this has been known to the Japanese Government. They further contend that the Picture Bride system was very distasteful to America and never intended to come within the scope of the Gentlemen’s Agreement. Japan in reply to America’s protest regarding the former abolished this picture bride system. This is guite true, but Mr McClatchy maintains that the Kanliodan system was thfcn ‘ instituted to overcome the difficulty. This meant that labourers were alleged to have been subsidised to visit Japan with a view to selecting a bride, and it was further contended that Japan extended the 30-day exemption from military service for 90 days to facilitate matters.

“Dr. Gulick, a well-known and able American, who has 1 ived for many years in Japan, made a brilliant speech before the committee on behalf of Japan. He pointed out, among other things, that Christianity, had made remarkable strides in Japan, and that the Japanese had full confidence and faith in the United States Government. He stated that the Exclusion Act would be a tdi'rible insult to Japan and be resented as such, and would undoubtedly lead to the partial destruction of the missionary work in that country as well as complications of a seirous nature between the two countries. It is men of the Dr. Gulick type who have been responsible for the feeling of safety Japan has had with regard to immigration. Secretary of State Mr Hughes also denounced the legislation before it passed the Senate, and the action of Cyrus Woods, Ambassador to Japan, in resigning his post after the Bill was signed, has not helped to improve matters.

“In the meantime the Japanese are deeply resentful of the conditions of the Bill, and although this feeling is not very visible in Hawaii, it is there all the same, and a little conversation with one’s Japanese friends reveal clearly how much their feelings are hurt. They are still hopeful, however, that matters will be remedied. It has been stated on excellent authority that President Coolidge, if elected, will present a treaty dealing with the situation in a more diplomatic mariner to the next Congress in December. If this eventuates, and it is most likely that President Coolidge will be elected, although almost anything may be expected in American politics, time only will tell how such a treaty, which would supersede the present Bill, would be received. A new Congress may de-

sire to amicably settle this trouble

although the temper of the American neople is in favour of settling once and for all the question of • immigration

on a satisfactory basis —to the United States. Secretary of State Hughes, in reply to the Japanese Note sent after the Bill was signed, stated that the incident must be considered closed.