The Washington herald., 1906-10-27

By President Roosevelcs direction. Vie
tor II. Metcalf Secretary of Commerce
and Labor viii leave Washington to-day
for San Francisco 10 make a thorough
inquiry into the anu-Japanese feeling
there, and particularly into the cause re
sponsible for the exclusion OF japanese
children from the public schools.
The action Of the President indicates
how thoroughly aroused the administra-
ton IS over Japan's resentment Of dis
elimination against its subjects in Cali
fornia, and how seriously it Views the
situation which threatens the continuance
OF cordial good feeling between the two
nations
Mr.. Metcslf is a Californian. His home
is at Oakland. just across the bay from
San Francisco. His selection as the
Presidents envoy was due in part TO the
geographical proximity Of his residence
TO the seat Of anti-Japanese agitation.
but the President wishes mainly 20 en-
phasize that his interest in the situation
is great enough to justify sending one
Of his Own Cabinet officers to the scene
OF agitation.
Full Inquiry Ordered.
The President also has sent directions
: .he United states district attorney At
San Frane.s&o. through the Department of
Justice TO make fuII inquiry into the
Determinations against japanese school
children. The district attorneys report
WilI be presented to Secretary Metcslf on
his arrival at San Francisco.
Mr.. Metcalf had long conference with
The President late yesterday afternoon
His instructions were generally to con-
fer with the governor. the acting mayor
of San Francisco. the japanese consul.
the school authorities. and all others who
might be able TO throw light on the anti
Japanese situation. and report TO the
President the exact conditions and the
basis of the sentiment which served to
bring about the discrimination egainst
! japanese subjects
While there is no Official authority for
saving so, i is supposed that Mr Met
+ c. II will eudeay0T to make the auti-Jap-
aneSe element among those in authority
/ in san Francisco realize the danger t.
the commercial interests of the United
States in China and elsewhere i1 the far
East which lies in giving offeuse 10
/ Japan. and also the moral obligation
which rests ugCu the Federal government
/ and its citizens to respect the treaty
rights Of Japanese who are assured Of
/ freedom from discrimination while rcsid-
( ng within tie borders of the country
VIII Notify Japan.
/ In thu meantime the Washington gov
/ ernment viii notify the government of
I Japan Of the object of Secretary Met
| cslrs mission. and give assurance OF ia
I
upon IS by The treaty ef amity between
i the two countries.
/ Nobody IN position to know President
/ RccScvelts views on the situation would
give any intima,lon OF the policy he
would bc inclined 90 pursue should the
/ San Francisco authorities decline 10 re-
move their discrimination against Jap
anese subjects.
/ Ii is doubtful even shat the President
/ has defined any policy even in his own
mind. \ straw that may be taken as an
indication of which way the administTa-
/ tion wind blows is found. however. In the
/ knowledge that the President and his ad-
viserS in their consideration of the pres
| ent embarrassing situation, have not been
unmindful of the fact that Japan, through
/ the Red Cross. sent more than a hundred
/ thousand dollars for the relief OF San
I AeAtA-Aa~U NeAA anu Al 2
Administration Concerned. =
It is expected that Secretary 8fetcalf
Will lay emphasis on this proof OF Japans
/ friendliness toward the United States in
his dealings with those who have favored
| discrimination against Japanese.
/ The administration is greatly concerned
over the anti-American feeling produced
/ in Japan BY the action of the San Fran
/ cisco school authorities and indlscreet Ut
/ terances OF prominent people in this cOun-
! try against the Japanese.
/ 1t is no secret that it viii do its utmost
70 prevent conditions which will in any
way interfere with the special relations
/ Of friendship which exist between this
government and its far Eastern sister.
1 No doubt need be felt therefore. that
| Secretary Metcalfs mission is in the in
/ terest of securing for Japanese subjects 2
fun observance of the treaty rights TO
/ which they are entitled.
Government Might Act.
! But there is no escaping the conviction
that should Secretary AIetcaIf fail 10
bring TO San Francisco authorities "A
realization OF the serious reflection which
/ their attitude has cast upon the good
! iaiIE OF the 1lileQ states IN It's oDSeFN-
ancc of treaty obligations, the President
and his advisers VIII give consideration
/ TO the question Of the powers Of the Fed
/ eral government 20 enforce these same
treaty guarantees.
Previous administrations have forced
J the same question. but none has gone %
! the extent of holding that treaty agree
ment gave the Federal government the
/ right TO take from the hands of State
authorities the disposition of cases in
which foreign subjects were denied thc
] privileges guaranteed them by Internal
tio0al conventions.
! Whether il will be deemed advisable for
the government 90 insist that the State
of California recognize the treaty privi-
( legCs Of japanese in that State nobody
in authority here is willing to say
Playing Cheap Politics.
Politics Of the cheapest kind is respon-
sible for the whole distressing situation"
said d high government official to-day.
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