Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
bILLSFORE XCLUSIOn
HALTED BY BRYAN
Japan War Scare Causes Action
in House.
MEXICO ALSO Is INVOLVED
Secretary of State Gets Anti-Asiatic
Legislation Called Off to Prevent
Involving u. s. Diplomatic
Relations With Mikado.

Washington, Feb. Secretary of
State Bryan prevented all Asiatic ex-
clusion legislation at the present SEES
sion of congress with a statement to
the house immigration committee on
Thursday that any agitation OF the
subject would involve present diplo-
matte relations between this country
and Japan apd Mexico.
AS an indication that the Japanese
and Mexican problems are directly re-
lated and extremely acute, the secre-
tary of state pledged members of the
committee to secrecy before he start
ed to tell of the Japanese complica-
tions and the work of state depart
ment to preserve peace. The COM
mittee stenographer was excluded
from the room.
Mr.. Bryan made q personal plea to
Representative Raker Of California
not TO press his japanese exclusion
bill at this time because it would en-
barrass the administration in its eff
forts TO allay anti-American sentiment
IN Japan.
The committee, through Chairman
Burnett, told Mr.. Bryan action on the
Raker bill and on all Asiatic exclu-
sion legislation propositions would be
suspended until commentators
shall be received from the state de-
partment
An agreement with Governor John
son Of California, under which no hos
tile legislation against the Japanese
by that state shall be enacted pending
diplomatic negotiations, was quoted
by Mr.. Bryan. He told how he had
been sent to California last year dep
utizer by the president to get this
agreement. He contended this agree
ment still held good.
Our interest in negotiations con-
corning the question of immigration
exclusion, is worldwide" the secre
tary is reported to have said. I'VE
cannot move in the matter of Asiatic
exclusion without affecting all our
treaties.
Offending the Asiatics with special
legislation opposed to them, this coun-
try may run into trouble with other
nations. I speak specifically of Mex
leo. We want peace with that troubled
republic, and we are not inviting COM
plications.'
Secretary Bryan said he would not
tell the committee the extent of the
Japanese influence in Mexico. The
government, he said, watched with
concern the recent reception in Mex
ico City of naval and diplomatic rep
resentatiyes of the Japanese empire.
There is no serious trouble in our
relations with Japan at this time"
Secretary Bryan assured the commit
tee. Our negotiations are moving
along smooth diplomatic channels.
ask that nothing be done by this COM
mittee to disturb the diplomatic rela-
TONS
The Burnett immigration bill provid-
ing a literacy test for applicants for
admission to the United States was
passed by the house by vote of 241
to 126 Wednesday. All proposed
amendments relating to the exclusion
of Asiatic immigrants previously had
been eliminated.
Representative Goldfogle of New
York lost by 240 to 40 his motion to
recommit the bill to have stricken
from it the provision requiring all
alien immigrants sixteen years of age
or over to be able to read or write.