The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-01-23


a statement issued today by the state
Department to the effect that no de-
mand had been made on Japan for a
written agreement TO limit immigra-
ton from that country, the "Chroni-
Gle correspondent is able 10 throw
some light on negotiations in pro-
gress through admissions made by
men in touch with the situation. Dip
lomatically and technically. the state
ment by the State Department is cor
rect No written statement has been
asked for and none will be. However
representations were made by Embas-
sador O'Brien which almost amounted
to charging Japan with bad faith in
the administration of the regulations
governing the emigration Of laborers.
In the exchanges that resulted in
Washington between the State Depart
ment and Japan's rep. sentative the
attitude Of the latter so nearly APP
preached turbulence, it is SAID, that
the scene of negotiations was remoy-
ed to Japan. ambassador OBrien
cited to Minister Hayashi evidence
furnished by immigration statistics
and made a full showing of the fail
ure by Japan to govern the problem
Of coolie immigration. In reply he
was given a copy of the regulations
and was shown that passports were is
sued in the name only of the Foreign
Office, but that certain provincial and
prefectural officials had authority to
issue them and did so, the consequence
being that the number was greater
than the Government contemplated.
The difficulty was accentuated, it
was shcYn, by the fact that while the
United States and Canada objected to
immigration Mexico welcomed it, be-
ing in need of laborers. In this con-
nection it will be remembered that
Commissioner of immigration Sargent
referred to this difficulty in his annual
report and said it might be necessary
to close ports of entry on the Mexican
border.
On receipt of this statement from
Japan Secretary Root called on Secre-
tary Straus for a complete report on
Japanese immigration. This was CIV
en- in great detail. Monthly records
for two years past were compared, and
every month since the proclamation of
the President limiting immigration
showed a great increase over the cor
/ responding month for the preceding
year. Some months showed double
and some almost quadrupe the lmmi-
grafton from Japan.
This was cableG 10 ambassador
o Brien, who was asked to request re-
newed assurance of the sincerity of
Japan's desire to stop the migration
of her laborers to the United States,
and to intimate that there was con-
tinued agitation in this country for an
exclusion law; also to call the atten-
ton of Hayashi to the maladm i2istra-
ton by minor officials of their own
regulations intended to discourage i'm
migration to this country, and to the
activity Of the immigration companies
in their efforts to defeat the purpose
of those regulations. The representa-
ton came very close to being a demon
stration of bad faith by Toxic.
In accordance with instructions EN-
bassador O'Brien saw Foreign Minis
ter Hayashi and cabled a long report
of the conference. Hayashi said that
the new regulations would be all that
this country could ask in text and eff
fectiveness and asked assurance that
no exclusion law would be passed by
Congress. He promised to curtaiI the
number of persons authorized to issue
passports, which would be granted on.
ly by the Foreign Office.
Secretary Root is now engaged in
framing reply. In its preparation
he is advising with Second Assistant
Adee, who is a past master on diplo.
matte precedent, with Third Assistant
Wilson Of the Oriental Bureau, and
w. w. Rockhill, Minister to China
who is now here. O'Brien will be told
to inform Hayashi that the President
can give no assurance regarding ex'
clusiOn legislation as that would be
an insult to Congress, which has moi
even taken it up for consideration
Pending a settlement, however, he will
promise to use his influence to pre-
vent such legislation
1t is declared that no apprehension
are felt over the ultimate result of the
negotiations. While they have beer
pending certain military precautions
have been taken, such as any pruden
government would consider advisable
Coast fGrtiiications have been strength
ened where practicable, arsenals hav
been stocked with arms and ammuni
ton, the general staff of the Arm
% and the general board of the Nav
have been busy considering hypothet
ical problems and looking to possibl
trouble. But no trouble is feared.
WASHINGTON, January III be