Imperial Valley press., 1920-09-14
AMERICA FIRST
HARD|NC'S STAND
Continued from Page y


they make to the world the advance
rent. it is conceivable that they may
be so different in racial characteris-
ties or in manner Of life or practice
fro manother people of equol honor
and achievement, that no matter
whether it be on the soil Of one or
upon the soil of the other, these diff
ferences, without raising any question
Of inferiority, superiority or Unequal
ity, may create, as believe they have
created upon our Pacific Coast. with
out blame to either side, friction
that must be recognized.
The nation owes it to the. Pacific
Coast to recognize that fact. The
Nation owes it to the Pacific Ceast
safes to stand behind hem. in neces-
sarY measures consistent with our ma
tional honor, to relieve them Of THEN
difficulties. To me it appears that
in this task the Japanese people and
Government Of Japan haveain interest
equal to our own. If the growth of
a prospering japanese population of
our Pacific Coast states is to increase
at rate which disturbs and alarms
a native population because of racial
differences, the condition is not one
Of theory nor prejudice, but one of
fact. To me it appears that a situa-
tion which might precipitate violence,
even the violence of few irrespon-
Sible men, whether they be Japanese
or Americans, is situation which
threatens grave international conse-
uuences. The cost of one small out
break might be an incalculable dis
aster to both nations-no less to
Japan than to the United States.
Guardians of Pacific
Our two nations are the natural
leaders as guardians of the peace Of
the Pacific, though | do not mean to
ignore the great part Britain must
play because of her vast dominians,
Acting in fine friendship with Japan,
it is possible by international action,
friendly financial and commercial CO.
operation, to erect joint policy of
greatest good to the far east and its
peaceful development. BY w0rking'
with the liberal and anti-military
forces within Japan, which have now
reached prediminance, America can
exercise her greatest influence in sub
stituting for territorial aggression,
the peaceful, righteous recr ramation
OF oppressed and impoverished peo-
pies on the Asian mainland by the
means of commerce and financing.
japan has even more than we att
stake. She, at the island stronghold
in the center of disorganized peoples,
is the outstanding, self governing
people withon a radius of 5000 miles.
Her responsibilities and opportunities
are great indedd, and she knows full
we'll that they can best be fulfilled
by friendly cooperation with Ameri-
ca.
Therefore, her interest in removing
all sources of irritation is. equal to,
if not greater, than our, and |, and
all Americans, shall regard her and
her people as wise enough to con-
tinue to assist in solving the question
of Japanese immigration, SO that, not
only shall new stringent understand |
ings shall be observed officially, but
so that evasions of these agreements |
by individual Japanese shall be COM
lletely stopped by the vigorous watch
fulness of the cooperating authority |
CT the United States and Japan.
1t is in righteous working out
CT the Japanese problem that | would !
see expressed the spirit of america
First" because it would mean that
though concessions of restraint and
waiting were yielded to "America |
First" vet, America would be first to
recognize the perpleXity of one group
Of her states. 1t would mean not only |
that America was first in her defense
of her rights in dealing with a foreign