New-York tribune., 1908-01-11
NO FRICTION WITH JAPAN.
State Department Officials Deny
Trouble OUer Immigration.

Washington Jan. demonstrating the smoothness
with which exchanges are progressing between
America and Japan relative to the adjustment OF
questions growing out of the immigration OF Japan
ese laborers into United States, the officials OF
the State Department puzzled to account for
the publication in various foreign capitals. as well
in this country, of reports calculated 10 convey
the impression that there is serious friction be
tween the two countries over this subject The
latest of the reports the effect that the Japan
ese Foreign Office is reluctant TO accede TO de-
nand' of Ambassador O'Brien that agreement
to restrict japanese coolie immigration into the
United States be reduced TO writing, meets with
unqualified contradiction at the State Department
The officials do care to discuss negotiations
of this importance while they still in progress
following the general rule based on belief that
such discussion is calculated to defeat the objects
sought. But il develops that what Mr. o Brien is
doing merely aiding the japanese officials to per
internal regulations that will serve TO stop the
indiscriminate immigration evil. He is not
pected to negotiate any treaty with Japan on this
subject or even to obtain modus viyendi or any
thing in the nature of the written agreement re-
ferred to in some of the press dispatches
Under instructions from the State Department
he has acquainted the Japanese government with
the fact that the measures adopted in Japan last
spring following the undertaking of the japanese
government TO restrict undesirable emigration 10
the United States by careful regulation of the
issue of passports have proved utterly ineffective
The Japanese officials surprised at the figures
presented by Mr.. O'Brien. illustrating not only the
continuance of the coolie immigration into Amer
ica but its startling increase even after the adop~
ton of the japanese restrictive policy
The Japanese officials have been endeavoring 10
frame regulations that shall be effective and in the
course of that effort they have naturally communi-
Gated freely with the American Ambassador The
latter has kept the State Department informed as
TO the nature of the proposed restrictive measures
and the department in turn has not hesitated to
suggest amendments to the project, based On the
experience of the immigration inspectors and col
lecors of customs in this country. 1hls 1nVolNeo
the cooperation of the Department of State ana
the Department of Commerce and Labor the latter
being directly charged with the enforcement VI 'ie
exclusion laws
Washington officials have received long report
from Mr. O'Rrien covering the latest phase of the
Japanese project. They are carefully considering
this and will not hesitate TO indicate how the re-
strictive plan may be improved, if that is posi-
BILE notwithstanding the fact that the ambassador
has expressed the belief that the plan proposed IS
satisfactory Should the department coincide in
this view il is stated that it will only be neces-
sary for Nj. O'Brlen to signify that fact to the
Jaoanese government. There will be no necessity
for him to obtain any written pledges, or to make
any suggestion that might in the slightest degree
reflect upon the good faith Of the japanese gov
ernment in this matter.
1t is suggested at the State Department that a
possible explanation of the circulation of the re-
port that Mr.. O'Brien has been seeking to obtain
written pledges from the Japanese government
NAV be found in the fact that about year ago
negotiations were actually in progress between
America and Japan looking 10 the confirmation OF
a treaty for the regulation of immigration. These
negotiations were suspended and finally abandoned
as result Of the feeling excited over the troubles
in San francisco arising from the exclusion of
Japanese children from the public schools and at
tacks by mobs upon japanese lighthouses and res
taurants.