The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-07-19
WAS No POLITICS IN It.
WHY JAPANESE WERE RETURNED
IN 1897.
Minister Cooper Puts a Plain State
ment of the Case-There had Been
Serious Evasion of the Laws.

Criticism of the Cabinets policy in
sending back japanese immigrants
early in 1897 is met by Minister Coop
er in vigorous denial that it was die
tated by politics, and an appeal to the
facts and circumstances of the mat
ter for it's justification.
He says:
"The foundation for the return of
the japanese immigrants referred to
in the editorial was a growth of con-
siderable time. The Government had
for nearly a year and a half had sus-
picions that the immigration of GER
tain japanese subjects did not con-
form to the requirements of our laws.
Several attempts to check this Illegal
immigration were made through the
courts, but were unsuccessful, owing
to the difficulty of obtaining evidence.
"The immigration of japanese un-
der the Labor Convention was aban-
doned principally at the suggestion of
the planters, who found it more con-
venient to obtain laborers under con-
tracts which had been approved by
the Board of immigration. This i'm
migration was permitted by the Gov
ernment, but a strict compliance with
| the qualifications demanded by our
law was demanded of all immigrants
from other countries as well as ia
pan.
Almost positive assurance was OBJ
tanned by the Government early in
1897, that extensive frauds were being
| perpetrated by the immigration com
panies in Japan, which became known
| to the Executive by overtures from
the agents of rival immigration COM
panies, who were not backward in lay
! ing bare the plans and schemes of
| their keen competitors. Fortified by
| this information more diligent and
searching methods were employed,
which resulted in disclosing the whole
affair to the entire satisfaction of the
Executive and in the rejection of "A
large number of immigrants.
"Previous warning had been Civ
en- to the japanese government that
| the Executive reserved the right to
terminate all immigration which was
conducted or assisted by private en-
terprise.
''The immigrants who were sent
back came clearly within this class
Neither the Convention of 1886 nor
the Treaty of 1872 provided for the
immigration of the class of people
who were refused permission to land
in the early months of 1897.
This action was not done for politi-
cal effect, but to prevent the immi-
grafton of a large body of people OF
the laboring class, when it was ap-
parent that there was no demand for
their labor; and which would, if con.
tinued, have seriously interferred
with the political and economic sta.
tus of the country, and would have
resulted in landing on our shores, il
continued at the same rate in which
they were coming into the country al
the time, a large pauper class, for the
reason that no sufficient employment
could be found for them.
"The action of the Collector Genera
was fully sustained by the Supreme
Court, whose decision was based up
on the prominent decisions of the Su
preme Court of the United States il
similar cases; the laws of this coun
try being laid down on parallel line
with those of that country
"There has been no charge, in tht
correspondence which has passed be
tween this country and Japan, tina
the examination before the custom
authorities was not properly conduct
! ed, nor that the findings were no
supported by the facts. There ha
never been objection on the part .
the Government to immigration o
japanese subjects when conducted un
der the provisions of the Convention
of 1886, nor in accordance with tn
immigration laws of this country. |
was only when the violation of on
. laws reached such magnitude that +:
could not be overlooked, that the ac
ton was taken"