Evening star., 1919-03-21
WSCOUNT |SH||
SAYS Japan WILL
Sci
STANDBY LEAGUE
Asserts No Change Is Sought
in immigration Agreement,
With United States.
RACE QUESTION POSITION
LARGELY Sentimental.
Regards Recent Clash Between
Nippon and American Soldiers
as Only Local.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

"a
SG
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Frankness counts in internations1
relations, and Viscount Ishii, the Japa-
nese ambassador to the United States,
is true exponent of the new dip2e-
macy, for he discussed the relations
between Japan and this country today
with a eandor that marks a distinct
advance in the methods of diplomats
at Washington.
His attention drawn to the series
of happenings in recent days calcu-
lated to weaken the bonds of friend
ship between the United States and
Japan. Viscount Ishii submitted to aa
interview touching on the attitude Of
Japan at the peace conferences; the
immigration question; the street fight
between American and Japanese SOL
diers at Tientsin: the outbreak Of
revolution in Korea; the so-caflea
secret treaties between China ana
Japan. and the general question Of
whether Japanese residents in this
country may be regarded as having
open to other aliens. IS
Recent Clash Only Local.
What is your version" I asked him,
"of the reports from Peking of q
quarrel between American and Jap
anese soldiers stationed at Tientsin,
China?" The ambassador replied:
While 1T was a most regrettable
occurrence-and l sincerely believes
thorough investigation will be made
to determine who was at fault-She
incident is local in Importance. aane
does not reflect any general feeltnt
as between the American and JaXy
anese troops in, the far east. Wkan.
ever large bodies of troops are Eax1-
cred together there are bound to "a
Arawls. i. ts.sE
Even in France there have beer
osGas;Onfs oIs ;0 -. TEf.n .ss 9. 6sswesn indis;
l am confident that IL our soldier
have been the cause Of it they viii b
punished. just as I am sure the milts
tary commanders of the Americas
forces would discipline the Ameri.
can troopers should they be found
in the wrong. But again emphast1e
that the incident is purely local N
Importance" -.sl.s
Korea's Move Is Discussed. ~.
What of the stories that have
been coming to the United States Of
an Independence movement IL
Korea?" was my next question, ana
Viscount Ishii replied:
The disturbances in Korea have
been the work of several young
Korean students. Most of them were
educated in Japan, where they got
many of their ideas Of parliamentary
they return home naturally they SEX
to set up a government of their own
Really, we Japanese are
proud Of our administration in Ko-
rea- We submit that under our super
vision the Korean people have bean
better governed than they ever have
been. And l earnestly believe that Q
majority Of the people in Korea would
bear out that assertion. Unrest. how
ever, is not confined to Korea. 1e
is running through many nationali-
ties who aspire to self-determination.
given more share in the
Desires No Change Of Status.
What is the real meaning of. tie
discussion at this time by Japan Qf
the question of racial Discrimination.
and what is sought at the peace con-
ference on that point?"
Il am sorry that some senator's ana
others in this country have misun-
derstood that portion Of my speech
in New York last week in which =
referred to this point. As matter
of fact, / had no particular instrue<
tions from my. government to mfke
that address. but the subject II 80
close to the heart of every Japanese
that I merely reflected japanese plos
lie opinion. ts.
Briefly, Japan is in favor Of q
league of nations, and wants to do het
share to make that league prevent1
i've of war. which we all abhor. Baf
if we are to prevent wars we must 50
to the source of all friction between
peoples and do the best we can
toward removing such differences. i
Desire No Change in Status. -
Indeed. what Japan seeks is large-
ly sentimental. 1t would involveg
for example, no change in the status
of our relations with the United
States. / said nothing In my New
York speech which would give any
body basis to believe that japan in
tended to have the gates opened 70
flow of japanese imnni-
grants to the United States. Quite
the contrary is true. Few men, per-
haps, know this Immigration ques-
lion between the United States and
Japan better than /, for it fell to
me while in Japan. as head OF the
consular bureau, actually to execute
the provisions of the gentlemen's
agreement entered into between the
United States and Japan wherenJ
Japan herself agreed to impose Ts--
,trictions on the exodus of Japanese
Ia borers to your country. .k,.s
1--WE are satisfied with the gentter
Intended to raise the question Of our
light to enter the United States, there
8 a treaty between the two couIf-
ries which gives us that right. But
While we cherish that right, never.
heless, in the interest of friendly re-
atoms. we also recognize the eco
,omic problems which make it desira-
triction upon immigration of labor
nto your country. and doubt II any
agreement has been
nore punctiliolsly kept than the &r--
aneement whereby we ourselves pre-.
,ent the exit of Japanese to tha.
United States. IIE.
Dislike Being Restricted. a;s5s-
at would not give the impresstotr
hat Japan wants to see her peppl&
cave her shores and go to oth&H
ountfies. Yet every nation likes -
eel that when her nationals tr9vo&
.nywhere in the world they shall NOT
,e subject to discrimination. Did not
he United States abrogate q treaty
With Russia at one time because Rus
ia refused to give passports to Amee-
Continued on Second Paea,l .Iv