AMERICA AND JAPAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19203, 20 June 1924, Page 5

AMERICA AND JAPAN

MR HAN3KARA HONOURED. FAITH IN MUTUAL FRIENDSHIP. A CONCILIATORY UTTERANCE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, June 10. In a speech at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, when acknowledging the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, Mr Hamhara (Japanese Ambassador) declared : “Japan, in dealing with the United States, has always believed that between friends no question was incapable of amicable adjustment. The question in the minds of the Japanese is: Was it the true sentiment of the American people to make light of their friendship with the people of Japan, which was built up by the hard and conscientious labour of both peoples?” The Ambassador did not mention specifically the immigration law, but he expressed the hope that their friendship might survive. He believed that it would if the countries remained true to the worthy traditions embodying the great and humane spirit of mutual toleration and esteem. “ Japan has always felt,” lie said, " and still feels that she owes America a lasting debt of gratitude. This debt of gratitude Japan has not failed and will never fail to repay as opportunity offers. Japan has for years been America’s greatest Pacific customer and the United States has been the greatest market for Japanese products. Evil forces began after the Russian war to mar these happy and mutually beneficial relations, but the last Washington Conference entirely removed discord and restored the old Happy and glorious friendship.”—Reuter. FEELING IN JAPAN. MODERATE COUNSELS PREVAIL. TOKIO, June 18. More moderate counsels are prevailing, and the Japanese Christians have dropped the proposal to' break away from the American Mission. SENATOR LA FOLLETTE. ELIMINATED BY FARMER-LABOUR PARTY. WASHINGTON, June 18. (Received June 19, at 9.20 p.m.) A telegram from St. Paul says that Senator la Toilette was eliminated as a Presidential candidate ny the National Farmer-Labour-Progressive Convention. — Reuter. REPLY TO JAPANESE PROTEST. RIGHT TO CONTROL IMMIGRATION. PAST AGREEMENTS ABROGATED. WASHINGTON, June 18. (Received June 19, at 9.25 p.m.) The State Department has published Mr C. E. Hughes’s reply to the Japanese protest against exclusion. The reply declares that the legislation affects neither the letter nor the spirit of the treaty of 1911, nor violates the “Gentlemen’s Agreement.” Mr Hughes asserts that the President desired to deal diplomatically, but he was unable to go beyond Congress. He observed that the exclusion provision does not materially differ from the operationor policy of the ‘‘Gentlemen’s Agreement,” saying that tho Government fully and gratefully appreciates Japan's voluntary assistance in executing a long-estalilisifed policy, which evidences no lack of esteem of Japanese character and achievements. He adds that an important change is Congress's determination to exercise its prerogative, of legislating on immigration.

Mr Hughes points out that the Government does- not reel itself limited bv prior international arrangements. I<urtbermore, existing negotiations and past negotiations do not impair the full liberty of action of either party. Reviewing the treaties ho points out that the United States was careful to negative any intention that the treaty of 1 911 should derogate from the hill right of discretionary control of immigration, which right Japan unhesitatingly asserted domestically. He exn'weq regret that the Congressional .action allows of no latitude to exercise execnUve diseretion. and aeeni'wr-r.- in Japan’s y’e-.- that Japan is relearcd from further oHi -ationa. In conclusion Mr Hughes expresses the eonr.V-tion D'-t. the reroo-HGon „f fVm right of each '’ovovnment to legislate in control of immigration should not, dero. .gate , + he mutual o-nndwil] a.nd cordial O-emi-inn which had a.lwavs characterised fV,e -01-t-ons of the two countries.—A. and N.Z. Cable. JAPANESE EXCLUSION POLICY. EXPLAINED BY AIR VVILFOED. Mr I. M. Wiliord, ALB., Leader of tell Opposition, was the speaker yesterday at the weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club. Rotanan Summon, president oi ’the club, introduced Air Wiliord, observing that, though politics u ore exdu .ed by t7ic dub trom consideration. Air Wilford’ had been elected to Parliament lor a great many years for the same constituency and had a record as a public man that, whethei they agreed with him or not, gave him a claim to their consideration and respect. Mr Wilford said that as a result of his reading and of his personal observations in the Ear East he was convinced that all the cablegrams from Japan about its relations with ■ America were propaganda. Japan did not intend to make war on America, and the reason was obvious—namely, that the Japanese exclusion laws were tighter than the American exclusion laws, and. that being the case, the world would not back Japan in lighting America on that cause. Japan could not possibly dream of making war on .America oil the exclusion policy. He would show what those laws are. They prevent foreigners from acquiring landed property in Japan or from engaging in any form of agriculture--c.g., rice growing, gardening, etc. They prevent a foreigner from owning ships flying the Japanese flag, and from holding stock in national, agricultural, or industrial banks, and the articles of many largo companies exclude foreigners from membership. Any interest of foreigners in shipping firms must be subordinated to Japanase control. No foreigners are allowed to engage in mining operations. They cannot become members. shareholders, or brokers of the various stock exchanges, nor members o r chambers of commerce. They cannot hold public office of any kind, or bo members of tho Japanese Bar. Thev cannot enjoy tho franchise. Foreign life insurance companies cannot write insurances in Japan unless a large percentage of the money collected is left in the country. Doctors and surgeons cannot practise unless they pass a. professional examination in the Japanese language in writing and orally before a board of native doctors. Under the Japanese laws rebates may be allowed by Japanese steamship companies on all goods exported or imported by Japanese merchantr.. which system is widely exploited to help to undersell foreign merchants. Tho laws and administration of justice) in Japan discriminated against foreigners in a marker] degre >. Labourers were barred from Japan—even from Korea which is now part of Japan—on the ground that they lowered the standard of living and instituted unfair competition in the labour market. No Korean, though a Japanese subject, was allowed to enter Japan unless it could he shown that his presence there would not conflict with tho interests o' the Japanese workpeople. That is to say. added Air Wilford, that Japan adopted tho same attitude towards Korea as the United States adopted towards Japan, and for tho same reasons.