New-York tribune., 1913-06-23
NAHAN UPHOLDS j. S.
RIGHT TO EXCLUDE JAPS
Thinks Natior'S Status as Great
power Unaffected by Denial
of immigration Privileges.
SlLIENT FACTS IGNORED
FIRST Among These Is That
ponular Will Favors EXclu-
sion, and Must in the
End Prevail.
rBy Cable TO The Tribune.l

rBv Cable 20 The Trihune.l
-o,don. June 23-"The Times" pub !
- remarkable letter from Rear
,ariral A. T. Mahan on the subject
!, the American attitude toward /
,.,snese immigration. 1t brushes
..iae minor controversies and deals
s.o.dlv with the fundamental issue in
sn,rjt Of philosophic calmness.
ADMIRAL Mahan writes in reply to
.ho article by Sir Valentine Chirol .
.,blisbed on May 10 The Chirol text
,ss the California land act. but the
writer pointed out that the ultimate
,,sus involved was whether Japan was
entitled 10 rank smong civilized ma
lions whose citizens the American Re
,nbrc was ready TO welcome.
Admiral Mahan holds that while Sir
valentine does not give a decisive re-
,lv 10 this question the whole tone #
his paper implies an affirmative re-
snonse. Admiral Mahan continues:
In nv own appreciation there is no
necessary connection between a na-
ton's status as a great 20 CT and her I
right 10 receive for her people the priv
Bsges Of immigration and naturaliza-
fon in the territory Of another stare, |
and the reasoning adduced in support !
n such proposition seem TO me to be /
detective both in some of their asser- /
tons and still more in ignoring certain /
conspicuous facts.
Will Of the People Is Law.
Primary among these facts is that /
Of the popular will upon which in the /
fundamental conceptions OF both the /
British and the American government
the policy Of the nation must rest. The /
causes may be what they may. econom- /
ieal industrial, social racial. or all /
four, and If there be any other motives /
the will Of the people is the law Of gov /
eminent.
so far as that will has been eX- /
pressed in America and Canada, it is
distinctly contrary 10 the concession of T
such immigration privileges, and with
the question Of immigration that OF /
naturalization is ineXtricably involved. .
There cannot, Of course, be naturaliza-
ton without immigration. while immi-
grafton without the concession Of nat
urazation. though conceivable and 1
possible is contrary 10 the genius of .
American institutions. which as a gem /
eral proposition DO not favor inhabi
fancy without the right of citizenship.
The question is fundamentally that /.
o. assimilation j entirely reject any /
assumption or belief that my race is f.
superior 10 the Chinese or japanese. !
Ny own suits me better, but ! wholly I
dsclaim as unworthy Of myself and OF /
ihem any thought Of superiority. But I,
with equal clearness I see and avow /
the difficulties Of assimilation due 10 I
he formative influences Of divergent |
lasts and races.
Problem Recurs Elsewhere.
It is not a color question. though I.
hat may emphasize the difficulty. 1t /
is the recurrence Of this problem which /
c'nfronts Germany in German Poland, |
Austria in her S!av provinces, Canada |
n her French population and South |
africa In her Beers. Despite its gigan- /
uc success up 10 the present in the /
asslmilauve processes due 10 Eng !
hsh Institutions inherited and Amer |
Nsnized and 10 the prevalence /
among the children Of our COM |
munity Of a common English tongue /
over all other idiOms. America doubts !
Der power 10 digest and assimilate the |
Strong national and racial character
kties which distinguish the japanese,
Which are the secret Of much Of their |
success, and which If I am not mis-
sken, would constitute them d con- |
unually solid and homogeneous body, |
essentially and unchangingly foreign"
The Times" commenting i'm its edi-
iorsl columns on Admiral Mahan's |
letter, says: we do not doubt that |
Admiral AIahan correctly interprets the /
feelings Of the bulk Of his countrymen.
and We are not disposed to question |
Ae weight Of the reasons he submits.
i Is tolerably clear Ehat the opposing |
forces are essentially irreconcilable |
aad may some day prove to contain |
very explosive elements, but in the |
meanwhile the issue is not urgent and |
here is time to inquire whether japan
mas a sufficiently plain idea Of what
she really wants.
Japan cannot have II both ways /
Seiore the problem becomes acute she |
must make up her mind whether she !
,s,knes to present herself as aloof from /
Ae other Asiatic races or as the |
deals"