The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-03-03

|sENATE ACTS ssPEEDlLY oN N \ y
AoREEMENT With h
MikADo.


I
washington, Feb. Is. The new Jap
anese treaty Of trade and navigation
was ratified last night after : two
hours executive session Of the Sem
ate. While the apprehension Of West
ern Senators that the treaty might
let down the bars to coolie labor was
not entirely removed, these Senators
contented themselves with expressing
their solicitude. They interposed no
objection to ratification.
Proves Cordially.
The action in promptly confirming
the new agreement Is expected to do
more to prove the feeling Of cordial
ity that this country has for Japan
than anything done for many years.
It is regarded as q manifestation Of
highest confidence in the advanced
civilization Of that nation. The effect
will be to permit Japan to enter at
once upon q reorganization Of its
financial system and the making Of
new tariffs with all nations.
Treaties Expire.
Japan's treaties with other powers
are to expire July II. That with the
United States. by reason Of it's later
ratification, would have continued uns
til the same date year later had not
this government consented to its ex-
piration at the same time as the
others.
Failure to have ratified the new
treaty would have delayed the opera
ton of the Japanese program for q
year beyond the time when it was
planned to put it into effect. It
would have meant much loss OF reve-
nue. to Japan and continuance Of the
existing treaty with the United States
would not have benefited this govern
ment, according to the represents
lions OF the State Department on the
subject.
WranQles Begin.
When the new treaty was received
from the President, on Tuesday, It
Immediately became the subject Of
wrangles. Pacific coast Senators
feared it might have an effect on the
labor situation on the western coast,
by reason of the omission Of the
clause In the treaty Of 1884, which It
supersedes. recognizing the right Of
this government to pass an exclusion
law. Friends Of the treaty explained
that the diplomatic notes accompany
ing it definitely pledged the Japanese
government to prevent an influx OF
undesirable coolies through the rigid
scrutiny of passports.
An alien without q passport would
OF course be liable to deportation. The
California Senators, it is said, became
satisfied early that the change would
not menace the labor situation in their
state.
Several other Western Senators be-
came alarmed, however, at what
seemed to them unseemly haste in
pressing the Senate to act. They de-
sired sentiment to crystalline In their.
states and therefore prevented action
for three days.
Supporters Of the treaty endeavored
to show that the presence Of the
clause on the subject Of immigration
in the treaty Of 1894 was obnoxious
to the dignity and pride Of the Jap
anese empire, especially as neither 1t,
nor any similar clause, Is In any
<rookv ~n,{<h ovnr xx&I,nr ,~,~~.&s~ ~v Re
was argued further that the existing
treaty would have expired In another
year and this country could not hope
TO induce Japan 70 sign 3 new treaty
containing. such q clause.
After full discussion the Western
Senators said they would not stand In
the way Of ratification, which was &C.
complished without 4 roll call. II