The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-16
The Question at Stake Is
No. One Of Racial Dis
tinction.
Experience Teaches Dam
gers of Too Free Influx
of Foreign Element
Attached to Homeland
~ JUSTIN MeGRATH.

~ JUSTIN MeGRATH.
Washington, April 1S--N u
Ishii japanese ambassador to Tire
United States, Is 70 return to Toxic
-'for conference on various matters
before the Japanese government
- Official announcement of the ambas-
eador,a proposed visit 70 his home
country was made today al the
Japa n ESQ embassy.
The announcement caused great
deal OF comment in diplomatic and OFF,
e1ai circles, coming as il did on the
heels of the report from Paris that the
japanese delegation 10 the peace con-
ference had been instructed by their
government to withdraw from the con
ference IL the delegates persisted in
their refusal 70 adopt the Japanese pro
posal against racial discrimination
II was the generally accepted view
here that the chief Of the matters be-
which the views OF Am bassador Tshii
IL desired is the frruness OF the inten-
tion OF the American government and
the American people not to let down
the bars 10 japanese immigration into
the United States.
AMBASSADOR UNDERSTANDS.
Ambassador Ishli has been long
enough in this country 70 under
stand thoroughly the attitude ~
the American people on this uues-
ton. He most probably will ad-
wise his cou1trymen widely. be-
cause he Is q very able and sstute
man.
He knows perfectly well that
there In no issue or equality in
volved In the exclusion of the
Japanese by the United States.
Furthermore he knows that
neither the people ~ the United
states nor the people Of any Of the
leading nations Of Europe can hs
deceived into thinking that there
is n question OF racial inequality.
with Japan recognized in the peace
conference and to he reco gnized In the
proposed league OF nations as one OF
the FIVE dominant powers of the world.
the recognition OF Japan's equality Is
beyond dispute,
AZ Senator Chamberlain has pointed
out the issue over Japanese immigra'-
tion Is not racial but purely economic.
The issue has been raised even more
fnsistently by Australia Car and
New England than Il has been by the
United tSates.
All three OF these countries have
found that the letting in freely OF
Japanese has resulted In serious in
dustrial menace IN their own people
and opened UP a political prospect that
justified alarm.
They have shown an even greater de-
termination than tho United States has
TO csll halt Great Britain has found
that they are not to be shaken from
their purpose
FRANK DISCUSSION.
The delegates rom the British do
rninions spoke very frankly and very
openly IN Paris on the subject OF per
uniting further settlement OF the
japanese in their countries.
They avowed that they would never
permit H.. There was even current COS
sin in Paris that Premier Hughes had
gone SO far TO tell Lloyd George tina,
unless Australia were permitted tc
handle the Japanese irnrn grafton men
ace in its own way its allegiance tc
Great Britain might he withdrawn
However this may be. the determine
ton Of the Dominions Is clearly demon
strated by the fact that Great Britain.s
delegates felt il incumbent upon their
/, TO cast the deciding votes against
Baron Makino's proposal to include the
racial equality provision in the league
OF nations covenant.
Sp the people of Grear Britain can,
not be persuaded that Japan's sole rur.
pose in pressing this issue is to secure
recognition of equality OF the Japa mes,
WIN the WnitS races.
The people of Great Britain and the
United States have Just learned
through terrible experience what Il
means to admit freely into their coun.
tries persons who in large number.
maintain thei rallegiance TO the LAND
from which they came, even after TAX
ing mp the duties and obligations o.
citizenship.
They are not disposed to take an,
further risks. especially not with per
sons whose assimilation is recognized
to be practically impossible.
NO EQUALITY QUESTION,
1t would seem, therefore, to he
most inauspicious time for the Japa
neset press what they call the issu,
OF racial equality. but which the PEG
pie of tho United States and of tn
British dominions are convinced is
question of whether or not they shall
allow the Japanese to interfere will
their Industrial life and put themselve
in a position 10 threaten their poiitica
existence.
Ex~C3ngressman William S Ben
nett, of New York, was a member o
the congressional conference com
mittee that arranged the so-callct
"centleman's agreement" which nov
controls immigration between Japa,
and the United States
ran into him at the willard to
day. and the history of that agree
ment, as he unfolded It TO me,
think has a pertinent interest," in view
OF the discussion now going on. in
duccd Mr. Bennett to write the fact
about the agreement for me. and
give them as he wrote them.
"Our immigration relations will
Japan depend upon an unwritten gen
tleman's agreement made in 1907
Briefly. this plan is that our countr,
keeps out Japanese who attempt Il
come here from other places. whil'
Japanese refuses to her coolies pass
ports to come from Japan to thi
country direct. Should Japan breai
faith and issue passports In larg'
numbers to her coolies. we have M