JAPANESE EXCLUSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19033, 10 June 1924, Page 5

JAPANESE EXCLUSION

UGLY SITUATION DRAMATIC SCENE IN A BALLROOM Several ugly incidents, the outcome of the American legislation excluding Japanese from entering United States, have occurred in Japan. TOKIO, June 8. A demonstration which brought the anti-American feeling home to the foreign community was the breait-ing-up of the usual Saturday night dance at the Imperial Hotel, the nerve centre of foreign and Japanese social contact. A band of thirty Japanese invaded the ballroom and delivered menancing speeches, urging the boycott of Americans in Japan, and a rising against foreigners. The speeches were punctuated by dances with drawn swords as an accompaniment to the proceedings, which were so menacing that the foreign ladies, of whom about fifty were present hurriedly left. The collision between the men and the intruders threatened until the more sober natured Japanese prevailed on the latter to withdraw. The police present did not interfere.

The American Charge de Affairs, and members of the Embassy staff were among the witnesses. NOT AIMED AT FOREIGNERS TOKIO, June 8. Representatives of the Taikoska Party, which is composed of extreme political reactionaries,, declare that the demonstration at. the Imperial Hotel was part of their programme and was directed not against foreigners, but against the Japanese present who seek pleasure while the country is faced with a grave crisis. The party intends to persist in the movement until its aims are realised. Buddhist priests, during the next three days, will conduct a campaign in Tokio against, the migration law. Matsui, the Foreign Minister, has been created a member of the House of Peetrs.