The San Francisco call., 1907-02-05
Japan Holds Key to Solution Of
the Public School Question

Continued From Page L. Column
lsborers from Mexico. Canada and other
countries. A week ago the proposition
70 pass a japanese exclusion act would
have been denounced. but a mighty
change may be brought about between
now and March I. but we are not so
ssnguine as 10 regard it as probable.
JAPAN HOLDS KEY
The statement that the san Fran
cisco people hold the key to the sit
uatiOn is all bosh. Japan holds the key
and we don't know what she wants.
The President himself does not know.
according TO what he told us IfNJapan
is willing to make an exclusion treaty
without imposing conditions that can
not be accepted, it may be possible to
negotiate treaty with her. What we
fear is that Japan may ask for more
than we can grant. This fear is shared
by the President and Secretary Root
'SViscount Aoki has intimated that
yapan viii insist upon the insertion of
= provision granting TO japanese IN the
United States the rights and privileges
enjoyed by citizens and subjects of the
most favored nations. This may mean,
from the japanese point of view, the
privilege Of japanese children TO enter
the public schools Of the States
Some OF the Senators have told us
that If the proposed treaty contains anv
provision like that they will oppose it
on the ground that it would be an at
tempt on the part OF the Federal Gov
eminent TO usurp control of the public
schools OF the States In some States
the right OF a State TO control its public
schools may be regarded as much more
important than the exclusion of Japan
csc laborers. We in California are will
ing TO waive the smaller point for the
sake OF gaining the larger one, but
other States may not see it in that
light
JAPAN,S ATTITUDE
~On the other hand. II the Govern
merit does not insert in +he treaty a
provision which insures 70 japan the
right TO send Japanese children to
American public schools it is very
doubtful that Japan would agree TO It.
I mean to say that Japan is somewhat
suspicious on this point and will in
sist on some guarantee from the United
States Government that no discrimina-
tion shall be practiced against Japan
csc in this country. The difficulty of
making such a guarantee without in
1ringing upon the rights of the States
IS perpleXingf one.
IF an exclusion treaty is submitted
10 the Senars we propose TO work for
its ratification with all our might We
ere Willing 10 waive our right to eX-
> ude japanese from the public schools
and We shall ask other States to do the
same. We believe a majority of the
Senators will agree that this consti-
rutfonal point can be kept in the back
ground for the sake of removing fric-
-'on IN our relations with Japan. I'm
'e an agreement is reached and the
nese laborers excluded there will
Hrouble. for the coast win not toler-
much longer the influx Of 1000 Jap
.-aese q month. Riot and bloodshed
viii force the issue. This is not meant
as a threat, but merely as q warning
OF what viii certainly occur.
REMAINING TIME SHORT
"As soon as the treaty is sent to the
4 Senate we VIII introduce bill to carry
the treaty into effect We hope such a
bill can be enacted without long de-
bate, but four weeks is a short time in
which to consider such legislation The
chances are against US If il becomes
apparent that an exclusion treaty and
act cannot \be passed by March (, we
hope the President viii i5e able to
patch up an agreement with Japan
whereby japanese laborers will be
prohibited by imperial decree from
coming to Hawaii and the United
States.
If Japan will do that California
probably would be willing TO admit
japanese children of school age into
the public schools. The President may
be able to show the japanese that such
an arrangement would prevent trouble
on the Pacific Coast If the Japanese
wish TO show good faith in maintain
ing friendly relations with US they will
have TO agree TO something of thai
lkind II they have other ends in view
some of US suspect. the present con-
Ittion will continue until there is an
explosion"