The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-04-22

Wish to Live in Harmony With
America.
/ - BY LLOYD ALLEN.
: western Newspaper Union Staff Cor.
respondent.
copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union.I
= D. Japanese statesmen at, the peace
conference have no intention what
ever of trying to force the immigration
question into the proceedings. accord:
Ing to reliable authority on Japanese
affairs.
It is true that one member of the
japanese delegation politely interpolat-
- Il resolution into one of the con-
r<Tences calling attention to the in
equality Of the United States immi-
grafton laws.
ss But it can be taken for granted that
there is clear understanding be-
tween America and Japan on the we'll
known "gentleman's agreement" ex-
Guiding Japanese from our shores, and
It is not the intention Of the Jap dele
cation to ask for any change in the
present arrangement on the immigra-
don question.
This is to be regarded as kind Of
xttle secret ''betweeu we Americans"
tut the cold fact Of it was that the
Japanese statesman who brought up
the immigration question at the peace
conference was more anxious to keep
right with his constituents at home
than to leap into the limelight by
bringing Objectionable questions be-
fore the conference.
...a Won't Wake It Up.
4 = And the ''gentleman's agreement"
PROPOSITION affecting America and ia
pan. is kind Of sleeping dog in the
Geld Of world politics that no one, even
the Japanese, have any desire to kick
into wakefulness. There are enough
knotty problems before the peace con-
ference now without introducing any
new controversial stuff.
As a matter OF fact, all that the
japanese had to say before the peace
conference was gentle reminder that
it all men are born free and equal, the
Jap, being a man, is free and the equal
Of anyone, providing the American
Declaration Of independence means
anything at all. This In effect was the
message.
TWAS slipped into the record. There
IT, may be read by anyone curious
enough to peruse the lengthy speeches.
As an immediate political problem II
does not exist. The chances are that
,,,;n ha kof
this bugaboo in it's old form for many
long year. probably never.
In the first place Japanese immlgre.
ton has stopped for the period of the
war and for, the period Of reconstruct
tiop+ in all probability. The japanese
is not embarrassed by a
feeling OF unrest throughout the IS
land empire because 100000 Japs must
leave the country every year, for the
Japs don't have to leave in the first
place and when they do they have
lands other than America to move to.
Good Faith the Keynote.
Good faith between the nations Is
going to be one of the keynotes of the
whole league Of nations plan, and the
Japanese. are for the league. In the
era the, world is. starting into, new
policies and new aims, all Of them
more liberal than anything practiced
in the pre-war days. are going to pre-
dominate.
We ure accustomed to think Of ia
pan as a selfish natiOn-partly because
OF the fact that she copied from the
OLD European diplomacy and also be-
cause there has been a persistent
propaganda spread throughout the
world by number Of German gentle
men who sought to promote discord
between Japan and America.
In thinking of Japan today we must
first of all take it for granted that the
Japs are members of the league OF
nations and are going in for all that
the league stands for. In other words
the day of liberalism in Japan is here.
The last Of The old statesmen the mill
tsrists and imperalists> died the other
day and the future of the country Is In
the hands of men who above all other
things are committed to their alliance
with the English speaking peoples.
And that alliance precludes the posi-
bility and probability Of their seeking
trouble with the largest English speak
ing nation, America, In the matter of
Immigration. a problem that sooner or
later will solve itself either in the
changing conditions that affect Japan
or the altered economic situation
America is going into during or soon
after the reconstruction period.
1t is easy to believe that the day is
not far distant when America will
need Japanese labor and will come to
the point Of welcoming it with open
arms.
Not the Best Clements.
viscount Ishii, who is the japanese
ambassador to Washington, and who
was the statesman that investigated
the Japanese labor situation in Amer
-1ca severn! years ago, was then Of the
opinion that it would serve the best
interests Of Japan If everyone Of their
citizens in America could be transport
&c at once back to Japan. He knew
that the class Of Japanese that had