JAPS EXCLUDED.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1924, Page 5

JAPS EXCLUDED.

ATTITUDE OF AMERICAVEILED THREAT ALLEGED. SENATE TAKES A HAND. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received April 15, 7.55 p.m. Washington, April 15. Following a spirited debate, in which Senators expressed resentment at the letter of the Japanese Ambassador (M. Hanihara), Senator Ixidge definitely aligned himself against the attitude of Mr. C. E. Hughes (Secretary for State), declaring that if the United States yields to the Japanese protest against exclusion, it will cease to be a sovereign nation. “We should let the world know that United States alone will decide, who can enter this country,” he added. “I will never consent to a principle that will lead any natiop to believe it can control our legislation by threat or compliment.” Senator Lodge called M. Hanihara’a letter improper, as it ebnt. ned veiled threats. Senator Lodge’s declaration in favour of exclusion rallied to its support Senator Reed, who had so far been opposed to it. At this stage Senator Pepper announced that he would support exclusion, declaring that “the gentlemen’s agreement” had been abrogated by M. H'aniliara’a letter. Senators Swanson and Willis concurred in this view. Senator Sterling alone defended M. Hanihara. saying that the letter was not an abrogation, but a strong protest against the abrogation of “the gentlemen’s agreement.” Furthermore, the letter contained no threat of war, but the consequences may well be grave if we alienate a proud and sensitive people. •

HER HONOUR AT STAKE, FEELING IN JAPAN. BILL’S PASSAGE RESENTED. Received April 15. 9.20 p.m. Tokio, April 14. Baron Sakatani, ex-Minister for Finance and a leader of public opinion, in an interview, said that the adoption hy 'the House of Representatives of the Immigration Bill, excluding Japanese, involves for Japan a matter of honour and international prestige. Viscount Shibusawa, an equally prominent leader, said: “We stilt trust that the fairness of American public opinion will solve the problem.” Both expressed deep regret at the passage of the Bill. Viscount Shibusawa said: “To the United States the question involves a handful of Japanese immigrants. but to Japan it is much more serious. We wonder why Americans are so firmly bent on injuring the feelings of the Japanese, who have done nothing to wound American susceptibilities. We fail to understand why anti-Japanese agitation wins the support of th? House of Representatives when Japan has done her honest best to prove faithful to ‘the gentlemen’s agreement,’ despite the agitation.”

EXCLUSION CLAUSE RETAINED. Received April 15, 9.20 p.m. Washington, April 15. The Senate, by a vote of 7*d to 2. rejected an amendment withdrawing the exclusion clause in the Immigration Bill.