The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-11
JAPAN WORKING
OUT THE SCHEME
Government of the Mikado Will
Take Necessary Steps to
Prevent immigration.
NO TREATY NEGOTIATED
TON UNTRUE.
NO TREATY NEGOTIATED

Washington, Jan. demonstrating
the smoothness with which exchanges
are progressing between America and
Japan relative to the adjustment of
questions growing out of the immigra-
ton of japanese laborers into the
United States, the officials of the state
department are puzzled to account for
the publication in various foreign
capitals, as well as in this country, of
reports calculated to convey the i'm
preston that there is serious friction
between the two countries over this
subject. The latest of these reports,
to the effect that the japanese foreign
office is reluctant TO accede TO de
mand of Ambassador O'Brien that an
agreement to restrict Japanese coolie
immigration into the United States be
reduced TO writing" meets with I'M
qualified contradiction at the state de-
Partment.
What o'5rien Is Doing.
Tha officials do not care to discuss ne
gOtiations OF this Importance while
they are still in progress. following
the general rule based on a belief that
such discussion is calculated to defeat
the objects sought. But it develops
that what Mr.. O'Brien is doing is
merely aiding Japanese officials to
perfect international regulations that
VIII serve to stop the indiscriminate
immigration evil. He is not expected
TO negotiate any treaty with Japan on
this subject, or even to secure 4 mOdus
vivendi or anything in the nature of
the written agreement referred to in
some press dispatches. He has, under
instructions from the state depart
ment. acquainted the japanese gov
eminent with the fact that the meas
ures adopted in question last spring
following the undertaking of the Jap
anese government to restrict undesir-
able immigration TO the United States
by careful regulation of the issue of
passports, have proved utterly inef-
fective.
Japs Were Surprised.
The Japanese officials We're surprised
at the figures presented by Mr..
OBrien, illustrating not only the con-
tnuance of coolies entering the United
states, but its startling increase. even
after the adoption of the, Japanese re-
striction policy. Therefore the Japan
csc officials have been endeavoring to
frame regulations that shall be effect
i've. and in the course of that effort
they have naturally communicated
freely with the American ambassador.
hS iollSI mas acquainted the state
department in great detail by cable
with the nature of the proposed re-
strlctive measures, and the depart-
ment In turn has not hesitated to sug-
geSt amendments to the project based
on the experience of the immigratiO
inspectors and customs in this coun-
try.
Latest Phase of the Affair.
This involved the cooperation of the
department of state and the depart
ment or commerce and labor the LAT
Ter being directly charged with the en-
fOrcement of the laws. There is pend
ing before the Washington officials a
very long report by cable from Mr..
O'Br1en covering the latest phase of
the japanese project The officials are
carefully considering this, and will not
hesitate TO indicate how 1t NAV be i'm
proved, If that is possible. notwith-
standing the fact that the ambassador
mas expressed the belief that the plan J
proposed is satisfactory Should the |
department coincide in this view. If is /
stated that ii will only be necessary
FOR Mr.. O'Brien to signify to the Jan
anese government that fact and there /
VIII be no necessity for him TO secure /
any written pledges or, indeed. to |
make any suggestion that might in |
the slightest degree react upon the /
good faith of the japanese government
in this matter