New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-01

(Ihis IS the third article IN a series
of fue ac,-itten By Nh. Vonderlip on
the situation, IN Japam.)
BY Frank A. Vanderlip
There had not ten minutes elapsed
after the opening Of the first con-
ference before it became evident that
the one point uppermost in the minds
of our Japanese confreres was the
the American immigration question.
The subject was one that we could
quickly see was affecting their minds
profoundly. 1t at once developed, too,
that their irritation was not entirely
engendered by the American attitude
of exclusion, but was caused largely by
what they regarded as discrimination
in the treatment of Japanese already
in America, and perhaps even more
than that by the rudeness and the UNI
kindness, as looked at from their point
of view, of the manner of expressing
public sentiment in California.
They were perfectly ready to recog-
nize the domestic difficulties in the
United States that would certainly fol-
low anything like a free influx of Jap
anese immigration. There was no sug-
gestion of attacking the exclusion pol
icy, but there was a depth of feeling in
regard to the proposed referendum in
California, and especially as to the
wording of that referendum, which had
cruelty wounded Japanese national
pride.
In respect to the immigration ques-
ton. there was frank admission that
errors had been committed by the Jap
anese in America. In the beginning
these errors were regarded as natural
ly resulting from ignorance of West
err customs and ideals. The first i'm
migration of Japanese into America
had been brought about by the active
efforts of American employers of
labor. The Chinese exclusion act had
/ left a gap in the California labor sup
ply and capital sought to fill that gap
by the importation of Japanese labor.
Employers went first to Hawaii,
where an undesirable class Of Japanese
was secured. From the first educated
and experienced people in Japan were
/ fearful that the japanese people would
be unhappily represented by this class
of immigration. The activities Of
American employers soon extended to
Japan, and immigrants were gathered
up from whatever class they could be
most readily drawn.
Assisted by Americans
1t was admitted with entire frank
ness that the early immigration move
ment was largely made up from a class
/ OF Japanese least likely to give the
greatest satisfaction to their new
Western neichbors, but it was felt
that that the fault for that, in large
part at least, lay at the door of Amer
lean employers of labor. 1t was point
ed out that the natural national char
actcristics Of the Japanese was insuiar,
that for 1000 years they had stayed
closely at home, and that, more than
any other nation in history, had so
kept to themselves that they became
known to the world as the hermit ma
tion.
There was no movement of japanese
to European countries, and, indeed. al
most no movement out Of Japan direct
" traccablc to the unaided voliton Of
the japanese. American immigration
was not only invited but most actively
assisted, by Americans in the begin
ming.
There was little complaint in the
minds of our Japanese confrcres
against the basic provision of eXclu
sion, except as that policy rested upor
any declaration on the part of Americ;
Of inferiority of race. The burden o
the complaint was directed toward
lack OF equity and justice in the treat
ment of Japanese already resident il
America, but perhaps even more par
ticularly, against the harshness and
unkindness, as they repeatedly uset
these words. in the methods adopted.
1t was the feeling that Japan ha(
acceded to every request made by oul
Federal government. They bad acqui-
esced in the "Gentlemens Agreement,
and professed to have observed it!
terms with the most scrupulous honor
They had acQuiesced in the roqucs
that the practice Of sending "pictur
I brides" should be stopped, although
they felt there was great unkindnes
in an attitude which shut Japanes
resident in California out Of any hop
Of peaceful family life. They espresso
a willingness to acquiesce to almos
any demand that the Federal govern
fnont would make if there was in it a
least 4 show of equity compared wit
! our treatment Of other aliens.
The exposition Of their views on tn
immigration question left little doub
in our minds that an urdcrstandin