Evening star., 1908-01-10
TOXIC STORY DENIED
No Demands Have Been Made
Upon Japan.
REPORT OF AMBASSADOR
Mr.. 0Bricn Cooperating With
japanese Officials.
NO EVIDENCE OF FRICTION
No Necessity for Obtaining Written
Pledges = to Reflect Upon Faith
of Mikado's Government.
Q0 EVIDENCE OF FRICTION

Considering the smoothness with which
exchanges are progressing between the
United States and Japan relative 10 the
adjustment of the questions growing out
of the immigration Of Japanese laborers
into the United States, the officials of the
State Department are puzzled to account
Tor the publication in various fore gn cap
itals. as well as in this country. of press
reports endeavoring to convey the imprcs-
sion that there is serious friction between
the TWO countries over that subject Tho
latest OF these reports. to the effect that
the japanese foreign Office is reluctant 10
accede TO demand OF Ambassador.
y Brlen that an agreement 10 restrict
japanese coolie immigration into the
United States be reduced 10 writing.
meets with unqualified contradiction at
the State Department.
Assisting japanese Officials.
The onfcials do not care to discuss no.
EQUATIONS of such importance while they
are still in progress, following the general
rule, based on the belief that such dis
cuss.on is calculated to defeat the objects
sought. But 1t developed that wha; Mr..
Y Brien Is doing is merely aiding the
japanese officials to perfect internal reg
ulatlonS that VIII serve to Stop the jndis-
crlminate immigration evil.
lie IS not expected to negotiate any
treaty with Japan on that subject or even
TO secure modus vivehdi or anything in
the nature of the written agreement re-
ierred 10 in some of the press dispatches.
he has, under instructions from the State
Department. acquainted the japanese
government with the fact that the meas
ures adopted in Japan last spring follow.
ing the undertaking OF the japanese gov
ernment TO restrict undesirable emigra-
ton TO the United States by n care sul
regulation OF the issue OF passports have
proved ineffective.
Framing New Regulations.
The Japanese officials were themselves
surprised at the figures presented by Mr..
OBrien, illustrating not only the continu-
ance OF the coolie immigration into Amer
lea. but its startling increase even after
the adoption of the Japanese restrictive
policy. Therefore. these Japanese officials
have been endeavoring to frame regula-
tons that shall be more effective. and i'm
the course of that effort they have nat
uraily communicated freely with the
United States ambassador
The latter has acquainted the State De-
partment in great detail by cable with
the nature of the proposed restrictive
measures, and the department i'm turn has
not hesitated to suggest amendments .
the immigration inspectors and collectors
OF customs in this country that involved
the cooperation OF the Department OF
state and the Department of Commerce
and Labor, the latter being directly.
charged with the enforcement of the ex-
clusion laws.
At the present moment there is pending.
before the Washington officials a very
long report by cable from Mr.. O'Brien
covering the latest phase OF the Japanese
project. and the officials are carefully
considering this and will not hesitate to-
indicate how 1t may be improved, IL that
Is possible, Notwithstanding the fact that
the ambassador has expressed the belief
that the plan proposed is satisfactory.
Should the department coincide in that
view it will be necessary only for Mr..
O'Brien to signify to the Japanese gov
eminent that fact and there will be no
necessity for him to obtain any written
pledges. or indeed to make any sugges-
tions that might. in the slightest degree,
reflect upon the good faith of the Japan-
ese government.