The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-21
IYENAGA ASKS FAIR
DEAL FOR JAPANESE
California Bill PrOhibitino O.
Land Ownership Called
'Unwise.'

The initiative bill passed by Cali
fornla prohibiting the ownership OF land
by Japanese was described yesterdaysby
DIR. T. Iyenaga in a speech at the Cana
dian Club luncheon in the Hotel Bel
mont as "unwise and futile" The anti
Japanese agitation in California and
elsewhere, he said is the result of mis-
understandings and mark OF the
TRANSITION stage" in American Japan
ese relations.
I'VE should never permit the Japanese
problem in California" said DR.. Iyenaga,
ito becloud our vision to the extent OF
losing comprehensive view Of the
whole aspect of the Acknowledgements
relationship The question should be
approached with an open and an I'M
biassed mind"
The necessity and the desire of many
Japanese to move to other countries was
explained by DR.. Iyenaga, who pointed
out that Japan is overcrowded more
than any other country except Holland
and that il is only natural for them to
move to Australia and the United States.
They fail to see the justice. he said. OF
being barred from lands controlled by
Caucasians. He said that Japan for
many years had shown a Willingness to
acqussce in the wishes of the United
terests to do So as American coopera-
l.. a \.
DR.. Iyenaga. discussing the problem
I'm California, admitted that it would not
be fair to say that Californians were
totally unjust and inhuman in their at
titude toward the Japanese. One OF the
chief objections to the Japanese, their
seeming desire to perpetuate Japanese
customs and ideals. is partially unfair,
he said, because the japanese have real
lied that their future is uncertain and
that they and their children may have
to return TO Japan. The tension OF the
situation In California. he said. would
be greatly relieved IL the Japanese there
would grasp the psychology OF the sit
uation and cling less exclusively to their
native ways.
Get Americans wage.
DIR. Iyenaga took up one by one the
accusations which have been made
against the Japanese in California, and
declared them to be founded upon false
premises. He denied that Japanese la
borers now work for a lesser wage than
Americans In instances. he said, nota-
bly, the picking of berries. they receive
higher wages because they are more
efficient He declared the Japanese
standard of living, though different Is
hardly less costly than the American,
and that the japanese youth is freer
spender than the American.
The argument that the Japanese are
buying the best lands in California is
untrue. Or. 1yenaga said, and he quoted
number OF figures. some of them
taken from the report OF Gov stephens.
t. prove that the fear of Japanese domi-
nation OF agriculture in that state is
not founded upon fact.
THE Japanese" said DR.. Iyenaga,
have reclaimed swamps. have rehabili-
tHted neglected orchards and ranches.
have added TO the food supplies OF the
country, have lowered to consumers the
prices of fruits and vegetables and have
helped to substitute abundance for
scarcity"
Taking up the several provisions OF the
| anti-Japanese land law, DIR. Iyenaga
said:
THE drastic nature Of the law will
readily be seen. In implied language II
| puts tho stamp of discrimination on
the heads OF the Japanese | leave to
| the constitutional lawyers to elucidate,
whether the bin does not violate the
! American Constitution by depriving GER
tain residents legally admitted or the
equal protection of the law IL Is up
TO the japanese Government to make a
I protest to the Federal Government as
/ the bill doubtless infringes upon the
Japanese-Amcrican Treaty OF 1911, con-
| travcning tho most favored nation
| clause In Withholding from aliens OF
| Japanese blood the rights enjoyed by
| aliens OF other races. What Is needed
| il tho complete mutual understanding
between the Washington and Toxic
governments. which. understand, now
80 happily exists and Is paving the way
20 an ultimate solution.
min Called Unwise.
! Leaving then these legal and diplo-
matte questions TO tho expert and prop
or authorities. / would say that tho bill
| ~ unwise and futile. II Is unwise be-
I cause II Il succeeds In driving out tho
I Japanese farmers from the soil tho
| Californians will be deprived Of many
| Of heir table dclioacies or else they will
have TO pay the penalty OF their foloy
By the Increased cost OF living.
They might gain by the legislation
n small immediate end. but they might
put TO Jeopardy the larger and vastly
more important values CALIFORNIA;
future prosperity rcsts largely on It's
being at the threshold OF American
trade with the orient. But commerce Is
delicate plant which cannot thrive in
an atmosphere OF suspicion and i'll
will
The law Is futile because Il may be