The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-10-07
SENATOR HARDING ON
JAPANESE QUESTION

In an address to delegation of Cal
ifornia men who journeyed to his home
at Marion, Ohio, Senator Harding last
week commented as follows on the Pa
cific coast Japanese problem
do not doubt that Americans ON the
coast are troubled in their minds about
the Japanese question, as it is called.
That question raises every interpreta-
tion of our watchword, America
First" for it involves four sets of OBJ
| legations. 1t involves our obligations
to a great foreign power. 1t involves
the obligations of that power toward
us 1t involves the obligations of all
America toward one group of Ameri.
can states and their peoples But it
also involves the obligations of that
group of states to the nation.
There are those who incline to raise
an alarm because of the dangers which
lurk in racial differences. do not
say racial inequalities, but | say racial
differences. | am ever ready to recog-
nize that the civilization of Japan is
older than ours, that her people have
a proud and honorable tradition. that
they have engaged in change from
| Oriental to modern customs of business
and government with amazing ability,
and that they have, as all world states
men, who have dealt with them. know
better than some.untaught Americans,
stalwart, unfinching honor, both in
armed defence of their pride, and of
their rights, and in the fulilment of
their international promises.
Friction has been created.
In spite of the honor of people, and
the great measure of contribution they
make to the world advancement, it is
conceivable that they may be so differ
ent in racial characteristics or in man
ner of life or practice from another
people of equal honor and achievement,
that no matter whether it be on the
soil of one or upon the soil of the
other, these differences, without rails
ing any question of inferiority, superb
ority or inequality, may create, as |
believe they have created upon our Pa
cifc coast, without blame to either
side, a friction that must be recog-
nized.
The Nation owes it to the Pacific
coast to recognize that fact. The Ma
tion owes it to the Pacific coast states
to stand behind them, in necessary
measures consistent with our national
honor, to relieve them of their difficult
ties. To me it appears that in this
task the Japanese people and govern
ment of Japan have an interest equal
to our own. If the growth of pros
pering Japanese population of our Pa
cific coast states is to increase at
rate which disturbs and alarms a ma.
tive population because of racial differ
ences, the condition is not one of theory
or of prejudice, but one of fact. TO
me it appears that situation which
might precipitate violence, even the
violence of few irresponsible men,
whether they be japanese or Ameri-
cans, is a situation which threatens
grave international consequences. The |
cost of one small outbreak might be an
incalculable disaster to both nations
no less to Japan than to the United
States.
Our two nations are the natural lead
ers as guardians of the peace OF the
Pacific, though do not mean to ignore
the great part Britain must play be-
cause of her vast domains. Acting in
fine friendship with Japan, it is possl-
BILE by international action, friendly |
financial and commercial cooperation, |
to erect a joint policy of greatest good
to the far east and its peaceful devel- |
opment. By working with. the liberal
and anti-mlitary forces within Japan,
which have now reached performance.
America can exercise her greatest in
fuence in substituting for territorial
aggression, the peaceful, righteous re-
clamation of oppressed and impover-
ished peoples on the Asian mainland by
the means of commerce and financing.
Japan has even more than we at stake.
She, at the island stronghold in the
center of disorganized peoples, is the
self governing people
within a radius of 5000 miles. Her
and opportunities are
great indeed, and she knows full well
that they can best be fulfilled by
friendly cooperation with America.
Therefore, her interest in removing
all sources of irritation is equal to, if
not greater, than ours, and and all
shall regard her and her
people as wise enough to continue to
assist in solving the question Of Japan.
ese immigration, so that, not only shall
new and more stringent understandings
be made, and not only all unders tand-
ings shall be observed officially, but so
that evasions of these agreements by
individual japanese shall be complete
ly stopped by the vigorous watchfulness
of the cooperating authority of the
United States and Japan.