Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-03-03
Friday. March 3 1911

IOOJs ~' w
TREATY THAT MAY CAUSE
TROUBLE. l.
The new treaty between Japan and
the United States which is to supersede
the Gresham treaty which will expire
next July, will it is said, be ratified by
the Senate without serious opposition
on the part of the Pacific coast senators,
although it is almost certain to bring
protest from the people of the Coast
States.
This protest will be based on the
fact that the new treaty contains no
stipulation regarding the restriction OF
japanese immigration. Instead, II Is
said there is to be secret understand
ing or q s.gentlemen's agreement" be-
tween the two countries, WHEREBY
Japan agrees to cooperate with the
United States in its effort to carry out
the spirit of the Alien immigration
Act. Secretary Knox, on the advice
of the President, it is reported, waived
any stipulation as to immigration SO
rs to spare the sensitive feelings OF the
japanese by not classifying that race
Is Objectionable and on par with the
Chinese.
This is q matter that is more than
likely to cause misunderstanding ana
probably trouble between the two
countries. 1t has been reported from
time to time from Washington that
there has been an actual and decided
decrease in Japanese immigration since
the passage of the Alien immigration
Act, but the people of the coast deny
that the decrease has been appreciate
and many maintain that on the con-
trary there has been an increase. To
the people out there the japanese
problem is q serious one, and the
Westerners say the negro problem OF
the South Is trifiing as compared with
It. While Japan is naturally sensitive
about having her people classed as I'M
desirable immigrants, her sensitive
ness seems to be abnormal, and is al
ways brought to the front when she
desires to obtain some advantage, either
in . diplomatic or business way. II
would have been better, it seems, te
have had q definite agreement regard
ing immigration put in the treaty ever
ut the expense Of jolt to japanese
sensitiveness than to leave the question
open to misunderstanding as to thu
real purport of the ''gentlemen's agree
nnent.n The situation as 1t stands il
likely to inf1ame the people of tn
Coast States, and there will probabl.
b more trouble such as occurred owe
the school question in California dur
ing the Roosevelt administration. T
avoid such condition of affairs Presi
dent Taft is reported to be anxious t
have Congress pass law which woul
put in the hands Of the National gov
eminent the power to force the state
to comply with the stipulation il
treaties with foreign powers. Tha
would be a tremendous blow at th
rights Of the states.
An interesting report in connectio
with the treaty is that the attitude {
President Taft and the republican leae
ers in favoring San Francisco as tn
place for the big Panama Canal Expos
ton, and opposing New Orleans, wa
because he hoped to trade the fair fc
acceptance of the provisions of th
treaty by the people of the Coas
States. He used every means in hi
power to aid in the victory for Sa
Francisco, but that is not having th
effect he desired is shown by the fat
that as soon as the provisions of th
treaty became known resolution
protest against it was offered in th
California legislature, and vigoror
telegram was sent him by the FEEDERS
relations committee, insisting upon
restriction clause and stating that les
than this would infiame the publ
mind all along the Pacific coast an
''may lead to condition that will
deplored by those DESTROYS of preser'
ing unity and good will between til
United States and Japan"
Of course we have the power to NAL
such laws respecting immigration
We see fit and to bar out undesirab!
Of any race, but such laws aIe likely
lead to unpleasantness, and applied
the case of Japan might make Co
gresham Hobson's prophesies OF W
come true. 1t is all right and prop
to be considerable of the feelings of 9th
nations but when we make treaties
il better to have matters that are lik
ly to cause trouble to be definite
stated.
EXTRA SESSION lNEvlTA1LE
Az ovfra eoociop NJ CouUroco NJ