Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-13
JAPAN'S POLICY GIVEN
Statement of the Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
EMIGRATION OF COOLIES
Views in Agreement With Those Of
This Government.
NO QUESTION NOW IN DISPUTE
Published Interview Deemed Worthy
by Ambassador O'Brien of Trans
mission to Washington.

Although the cabled reports from Toxic
some time ago contained references to an
interview published in one of the local
newspapers, in the course of which Count
Hayashi. the Japanese minister for for
| eign affairs. set out the position of the
| japanese government in respect to the inn
migration question, so Illuminating and
| important are the details Of that state
ment that Ambassador O'Brien has con-
sidered it worthy of exact report to the
State Department.. The status of this
question remains practically unchanged
since the date of the interview, so that in
giving publicity to this matter the De-
partment of State is practically itself re-
porting upon that interesting subject.
| The interview was printed IN the
Mainichi Dempo. an Independent news
paper sometimes for and sometimes
against the Japanese government in pol
icy, under date of January 1 last. and
made it appear that the following is the
gist of Count Hayashi's answers to va
rious questions relating to japanese emf
grafton:
position of Our Government.
THE disadvantages that our emigrants
to North America may give to both sides
have been recognized by our successive
ministers for foreign AFFAIRS since 1896.
Though article of the law relating to
the protection of emigrants exists for this
reason. this provision has been power
less to prevent the migration of our Ia
borers from Hawaii to the mainland OF
the United States since the formers an
nexation by the latter. 1t was IN March
visions of article of the Japanese Amer
lean treaty. the American government
enacted a law prohibiting the migration
of our emigrants referred to. 1t has. how
h ever. been discovered that some japanese
laborers have gone to the United States
pretending that they are students. Not
only is this embarrassing to the American
government. but those so-called students
are breakers of our own laws. Even
without any representation from the
American government it is our duty to
enforce restrictions upon them. We have
therefore decided to investigate the per-
sonal standing of those who desire to GO
to America as students and to require
two sureties for them. While this sys-
tenn may be extremely embarrassing to
real students. all legal restrictions are
alike in the fact that one dishonest person
embarrasses many honest people In
this measure is in accord with the policy
of the foreign Office followed for many
years.
Canada.
The Canadian government has ex-
pressed it's satisfaction with the measure
mentioned above, and we have sent on a
process verbale embodying the gist OF our
policy Needless to say. the writing given
to the Canadian government is not a
memorandum. so-called.
''The United States.
1--WE cannot help assuming similar at
titude toward the United States of Amer
ica But various Investigations are pend
ing. since, on account of previous statis-
tics, the American government doubts the
effectiveness of the restrictions imposed
by our own authorities. The negotiation
has not yet been concluded. and the for
eign Office is not In position to publish
the details l may. however. make
definite statement, as minister for foreign
affairs, that the the rumor circulated by
the press to the effect that there Is an
important question pending between the
United States and Japan is unfounded. 1t
being a fabrication originated in section
of the United States.
Hawaii and Mexico.
Should the migration Of Japanese la
borers from Hawaii to the mainland OF
the United States be not prevented en-
tireIy, the minister for foreign affairs will
not hesitate in prohibiting Japanese en-
igration to Hawaii. AS for Mexico. Min
lister Arakawa reports that it is not a
land favorable to emigrants. European
countries having already abandoned that
country as hopeless Those who desire to
send our emigrants to such country may
therefore be regarded as assisting the
emigrants in entering the United states
through the frontiers. The foreign office
intends to prohibit emigration to Mexico.
political Parties.
In the resolution of the Shimpoto
adopted yesterday the emigration ques-
ton is mentioned in connection with the
party's denunciation Of the conduct o. for
eign affairs by the present ministry Poll
ticians are wrong to treat this question In
such a way for our country has already
adopted definite policy. So long as the
present treaty is in force any asuauon
on our part will intensity the suspicion
of the United States and will result to our
disadvantage. While some people call at
| tention to the saving Of 10OO0.OOO yen a
year by our emgrants. which they call a
national income, the eStrangement or ia
pan from the United States will consider
| ably affect our export trade, to the extent
| of 10000 900 to 60.O30.OO0 yen, at least,
even without considering its effect on any
| other articles than silk and fancy mat
| tings The consideration of our CONNER
| ciaI interests alone would justify our pol
lev as to foreign relations, and the mis-
| conception of politicians Is disadvan-
| tageous to the state. Our present policy
/ the fundamental principles OF our inter-
1 relations ~