New-York tribune., 1920-12-10
Kahn Doesn't
Fear Japanese
War Is Near
Tells House if the U. S. Re.
mains Prepared There
Will Be No Difficulty Be-
tween the Two Nations
Blames Talk ON Jingoes
Deprecates Propaganda That
Instills Hatred Of America
Among Masses in the East

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Discussing
the Japanese question to-day in the
SIouse Representative Kahn, of Califor-
nia, chairman of the military commit
tee. declared that America hoped al
ways to avoid war, and that if "the
statesmen, the publicists, the politf-
clans, the agitators and the dema-
gogues of Japan" really wanted war
with the United States they would be
the ones to bring it on and not
Am mericans.
Mr.. Kahn said he knew that he voiced
the earnest hope and the wish Of
every patriotic American that peace be-
tween the two countries may continue
perpetaally"
"But the world" said he, "has only
recently learned that we are not too
proud to fight; nor are we afraid to
Ight when we are forced into war"
[~- The military committee chairman
sook occasion to reaffirm his belief that
= universal military training policy
would best safeguard the country, and
Fs%- ded:
r. Il have no fear that there will be
F.. ar between Japan and the United
iates in my life time, nor even the life
me of my sons. And l am thoroughly
atistied that if my country remains
~sHeasurably prepared there will be no
\ ltiiculty between the two nations at
my time"
= Deprecates Constant Agitation
Mr.. Kahn reviewed the history Of
tie relations between the United
Statea and Japan. With regard to the
japanese immigration problem in Cali
Jr OtGia, now the subject OF treaty nego-
~@iations between the two governments,
= said that students of international
1aw everywhere had recognized the
= absolute right" Of any nation to
- regulate INN grafton as it deemed
~lesr Even Japanese students were
Namiliar with universally accepted de-
7 sions on this point, he said, and
-dded.
1t is therefore most unfortunate
vi .at a constant agitation regarding
nose matters is maintained by our
'reighbcr across the Pacific; because
the final effect Of such propaganda
md agitation undoubtedly is to in
sal a pronounced hatred of America
III <hAiCi4Noiio ohiciiE tiiC Ahdo0So III
s~.iapan.
This is decidedly unfortunate con-
non of affairs Indeed, I say, it is
most serious conditional condition
~---;aat may result, unfortunately, in
ave difficulties between two here
ofore friendly nations"
'- The spHakeS said many public
Al agitators mad tried to make the
-orla believe" that opposition to the
/ nmi igration OF japanese laborels in
- the United States was based upon
acial prejudice"
Object Only to Laboring Class
We Of the Pacific Coast deny that
mis- is the case" he declared. "No
objection has ever been made to the
omission into this country OF Japanese
{. professional men, of Japanese fnan-
rlcrs or Japanese religious teachers or
II eaders or bona tde Japanese mer-
~suhs nts OF Japanese students or Japa-
s'Hese travellers. The sole objection is
- o the laboring class"
Representative Kahn called attention
gsto newspaper dispatches quoting Count
Dkuma, head Of the Japanese Peace
., ociety, as having said that if the
'inted States restricted Japanese i'm
rligration by statute instead Of by vol
ntary action of Japan the latter,
sather than suffer such prejudice to
eer prestige, must resort to force"
Surely" Mr.. Kahn said, "the head
of the Peace Society Of Japan does not
advocate the taking up Of arms against
he United States, as indicated in the
newspaper articles
From his reading of Japanese his
tory, Representative Kahn said, he was
ometimes inclined to believe that
there are many more political agi-
.ators and demagogues on the other
side of the Pacific than we can possibly
md in our own country"