The Washington times., 1913-06-22
TAFT SAYS JEALOUSY
CAUSEDLAND BILL
Bank President Declares Unit:
ed States Can III Afford
Strained Relations.

Strained Relations.
Jealousy of japanese progress In Cali
-fornia farming and business is at the
root of the States attitude toward Japa-
nese land ownership. according to ].
Selwtn TAFT. president of the Washing
ton and Southern Bank and former man.
ager Of the International Banking Cor
poration.
He declares further that the growing
commerce with Japan is a strong arsu-
-ment against strained relations between
the two countries. and he praises the
Japs as good citizens who try to excel
wherever they 60.
Are Incredible.
"The rumors." said Mr.. TAFT. which
Of California toward her people in con-
nection with the alien land bill have
seemed 80 incredible to the people of
that country, and 80 at variance with
the friendship shown by the United
States in the past, and especially during
Japan's struggle with Russia. that the
civic organizations Of the city of Tokyo
have sent to this country two of their
most capable citizens to investigate into
the truth Of the report circulated. and
to convey to the people of this country
Japan's true sentiments of friendship
ana esteem.
These gentlemen. DR.. Juichi Soyeda
and Tadao Kamiya. are men of emf
nence In their own land. DR.. Soyeda,
who was former minister of finance, Is
one Of the abiest bankers his country
has ever produced. Mr.. Kan1iya has
already made mark for himself in
commercial life.
These gentlemen express, both for
themselves, and as representing their
eountrymen. the very Tarmess sm s,,re Ieeip tSsf
nothing would please them more than
to be able to carry back with them an
assurance on the part OF our people
of those feelings Of sympathy and re-
gard which they themselves entertain
toward US.
Too Good Japs.
ut has been thought that the spirit
OF intense patriotism which goes to the
very core of the japanese being. and
which carries with II sensitiveness on
all points affecting their national honor,
would tend to operate against any posi-
bflity that the children born of jap
anese parents in this country would
ever become loyal citizens of the Unit
ed States, in other words, that they
were too good Japanese to ever become
good Americans.
This is, however. not 30. Patriotism
Is a quality of the mind inherent with
them and applies to their country
whichever and wherever 1t may be. In
this connection II may be pointed out
that so far back as 1900 years ago.
that n, dating back to the beginning Of
the old feudal regime, the japanese, In
taking up his residence with a different
clan. Invariably endeavored to SO con-
duct himself as to reflect credit on the
clan he had left.
This principle Of life exists to this
day. and II is the aim of every right
minded japanese to win approval in The
country of his adoption, sentiment
which tends to good citizenship.
$50 while ii may be that the Japa-
nese do not mix as freely with their
American neighbors as other nationali-
ties do. this does not spring from any
What is the extent Of the Japanese
to California Mr.. TAFT
was asked.
Not One Per Cent.
Il cannot say without reference, but
the number Of japanese immigrants as
a whole in 1911 was 4.2s2, or rather
less than one half Of i per cent Of the
total number Of immigrants to this
country that year. The total number of
japanese residents. according to the
last census. was 71.722. that is in the
entire United States. Surely nothing
very alarming In these figures"
What in your judgment is the cause
of Japanese emigration"
The same as in the case Of Eng
land" Mr.. TAFT replied. Insufficient
Japan's population is $50 to the square
mile, with only half Of the land arabic.
where as the population of the United
States is thirty-one people TO the square
mile. Compare thirty-one with $50, and
situated. is competent to appreciate the !
pressure brought upon
Japan. with an insufficient area for a
rapidly growing population. The causes |
are natural. ineligible reasons.
1t is therefore perfectly ridiculous
that these people. arriving on our |
shores. are soldiers in disguise or in /
deed anything else but innocent immi- |
grants like all the other countless thou |
sands who come to make their home |
under the improved conditions in this |
country"
Would Be Oriental.
Taking up the question Of a place for
q vast food Of japanese emigration, Mr..
TAFT said that the natural outlet would !
be an Oriental country. I!
On the point of the value of United |
States trade with Jayan. he said: ia
pan is the only country in the Orient
phich does an increasing business with
he United States. Her trade with US /
has far more than doubled in the last 4
lew years. ] refer to the sale OF Amer-
,an products in Japan. That these fg- 4
ires are of some magnitude may be es-
.imated from the ract that in 1872
Japan imported raw cotton Of the value
,f 500. 900. 900, of which So, 100000 was
received from the United States
Nearly 10 per cent of our exports TO
Japan are manufactures. a fact which
should not be overlooked. The figures
II our trade with Japan not only give
,oes not wish strained relations with
he United States. but they furnish
,ery solid reasons also why We do not
want a quarrel with that country.
with the opening of the Panama
anal, our business with Japan will
row much more rapidly. England will be
10 nearer to japan when the Panama
anal Is open than she is now. while
America will be from 1000 to 5000 miles
,earer 10 Japan. / would suggest, and
is by no means beyond the bounds Of