New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-01
Our Japanese Visitor"
And the Way to Relieve Japanese
American Friction
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir:. Let me express my appreciation OF
your fine editorial In this mornings ISSUE on
"Our japanese Visitors
You have laid your finger with unerring
accuracy on the real point OF difficulty that
for several years has been causing irritation
between America and japan. You say very
correctly that "if we repair the blunder we
have made in regard TO refusing privileges Oh
citizenship 70 japanese "other causes OF fric-
tion will disappear
In order now to secure the needed ADJUST
ment our people should be adequately IN
formed as to the real situation and the way
to meet il.
II Is important. first of all, TO note that in
1907 japan entered on the "gentlemens agree
ment." by which. faithfully administered
up TO the present. all fresh japanese laDor
immigration to this country has ceased no.
only so. in this interval G90S-19i6) l5,l4l
Japanese males have returned TO japan III
excess of arrivals from Japan. This rlgid
administration of the "gentlemen's agree
ment" has been Japan's part in adjusting
relations out of consideration for our de-
sires and needs.
We might to adjust relations out of consider
alton for Japan's desires and needs. The one
matter which outranks all others in this re-
spcct is the refusal of our courts to give
privileges of naturalization to japanese, now
ever they may personally qualify for II.
This action Of our courts and OF our de-
partment of naturalization is not based on
any act of Congress. Specific legislation mas
excluded from citizenship only Chinese by
name. but not japanese Monaghan or any
other race Until 1901 Japanese were gwen
citizenship 4 full statement OF the Gaze ~
impossible in this necessarily brief letter.
But | may say that the exclusion OF Japan
csc from citizenship is based on recent IN
terpretations Of the naturalization act OF
1875, in response to the anti-Japanese cam
paign and the consequent popular anti
Japanese feeling that has been developed DUR
ing the past fifteen years.
What is now needed to remove the funda-
mental cause of irritation between Japan ana
America is either decision by the supreme
Court reversing the decision of lower courts
and interpreting the law so as to permit
naturalization Of Japanese or special act
Of Congress declaring that citizenship shall
be given to every individual who personally
qualities for it, regardless OF his race
In my opinion this latter Is the preferable
course For il would not only set right our
relations with Japan, but Il would also re-
move from our statutes those invidious and
bumiIiating restrictions which were imposed
by Congress on the Chinese in 1852.
We give privileges OF citizenship to flnns,
Hungarians and Turks, who are all Aslatics;
to Hebrews. Armenians and Syrians Use
mites), and TO Parsees and Hindus; to MeNl-
cans and South Americans, to Hawaiians'
Porto Ricans and Filipinos; TO Zulus, Hotten-
tots. Kafirs and Africans of any and every
tribe. Is there any valid reason why we
should not OF the same personal qualihcatlohs
give citizenship TO Chinese and Japanese
Has not the time come TO carry out our
democratic ideals more completely than IN the
past and TO say 10 every man who lives per-
rnanently in the United States that we desire
him 10 come into thoroughly wholesome and
loval relations with our people and govern
ment. and that if he will learn English,
understand the principles and methods OF our
government and desires 70 become citizen,
giving M completely all political relations
with his native land, we will gladly make him
a citizen?
Such a policy would not add one japanese
or Chinese to our population, while it would
establish relations of good will which are
Of the highest importance both within our
land and between America and Japan and
America and China, respectively.
Is not this a measure that Congress might
we'll be urged to enact in the very near
future? SIDNEY L. NOLlOh'
New York, Sept. Is, 1917.