The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
JAPAN'S STAND
ADDS RECRUITS
AGAINST LEAGUE
Senator King of Utah Says
Racial Question Will De-
feat Covenant.
ISHII MAKES 1T CLEAR
Chamberlain Says Nippon
Insistence ImpairsSuccess
of Wilson Plan.
QUESTION Is DOMESTIC
POindexter Holds Problem of
immigration Is Vital to
the United States.
QUESTION Is DOMESTIC
Special Despatch to TIE Sun.

Special Despatch TO THE Sun.
WASHINGTON. March Is. - Japanese
insistence that the racial bars be
dropped as a condition Of her entrance
into any League of Nations has stiff
ened the opposition to the Wilson
plan. particularly among the Senators
from the Western and Pacific coast
States. This stiffening has been to
such an extent as to win over at least
one more Democratic Senator to op-
position to the league covenant.
The reason for the opposition on &C
count OF the Japanese raising the
question Of racial discrimination is the
fact that the league covenant as it
now stands would accomplish just the
things that the japanese openly have
served notice they will require. Even
Senator King Utah), one of the pio-
neers for the formation Of a plan for
an international league for universal
peace, asserted to-day that If Japan
| insisted upon equality for her citizens
in immigration It simply meant that
either Japan or the United States will
not be a signatory to the League Of
Nations compact"
At Variance With Assurances.
The speech of viscount Ishii before
| the Japan Society in New York last
night demanding racial equality proves
conclusively to the Senators still re-
naming in Washington that the ques-
( tion Of immigration is one over which
! the league in Its present form would
have control. This Is at direct variance
! with the assurance given by the Presi-
dent to the foreign committees of Con-
gress while he was here that immlsra-
his league covenant.
Senator King pointed out to-day that
Japan could not be blamed FOR her In
sistonce, because the question OF racial
equality closely touched Japanese honor.
, After calling attention TO the labor sit
uation-enough in itself. he said. to
insure strong opposition TO permitting
an influx OF Oriental labor here-the
Utah Senator said the whole situation
clearly eXemplifes the urgent necessity
OF concluding a peace treaty Immediately
and leaving until later the formation
of an international body OF some sort,
not necessarily a league OF nations as
we have come to understand the term,
but tribunal OF arbitrament which will
consider and decide questions likely to
lead to war
with this concrete proposal-the Viii
son covenant-before u.s. when We come
to analyze it's contents We find much In
it which must be modified l have
reached the point where unless the
league plan is amended l shall vote
against it,"
oknma's Views Reiterated.
Senator Chamberlain (Ore.), chairman
OF the Senate Military Committee, made
this comment;
THE speech OF Viscount Ishii is but
repetition OF the insistence made by
Count Okuma In an article prepared by
him for THE Sun about three years ago
That article with great force argued for
the abandonment OF racial discrimins-
tion. copy OF 1t was printed in the
Congressional Record and aroused a
good deal OF discussion in the United
J states and particularly in the Pacific
Coast States, where Oriental immigra.
tion and questions akin to it have for a
half century or more been extremely
acute; and not only in the United states
but In the Western provinces of Canada
THE Peace Conference and the pro,
posed League OF Nations has Eiver
; Japan the frst opportunity she has had
; to- Insist on the abandonment OF racia
discrimination and it was expected thai
that opportunity would not be lost sigh
of. The refusal to recognize the insis
tence OF Count Okuma and Viscoun
ishii opens the door to dangerous posi-
bilities OF combinations among Germany
Russia and Japan and possibly the Re
!, public OF China, while, on the otheI
hand, the inclusion IN the League of Ma
tions OF clause, such as that insisted
| upon by Japan and her statesmen, OPEN
| up the question OF unrest OF the Unite,
States and OF complications between tn
| United States and the Executive Counci
| proposed by the League of Nation
which 1t is impossible to forecast. Tha
Japan will remain firm In her insistenc
goes without saying, and sne cannot b.
blamed, proud and efficient nation as sh
| is. upon remaining insistent
Would Imperil Leagues Success.
80 far as the West is concerned
speaking as one famililr with the sit,La
ton in that section OF the country.
believe the inclusion OF the provisio
Insisted upon by Japan would imperi
greatly the chances OF success of an
proposed League OF Nations and at IN
same time imperl the peace and safet
Of the United States as a whole Per
sonally I feel that the question of i'm
| migration OF aliens to America
purely a domestic question and ough
not 10 De Included la The League q
Nations.
"The question has been treated b
Japan herself as domestic questio