The Cordova daily times., 1920-08-26
JAP MEMORIAL
 TO CALIFORNIA MADE PUBLIC

(by Associated Press).-The complete text of the memorial in which the citizens of Hiroshima province, Jap an, recently protested to the people of California against proposed legis- lation affecting Japanese immigration has been received here.
 The greater number of Japanese i'll California came from Hiroshima pro- vince, it is said.
 The memorial in full was given as follows by Japanese newspapers:
 From the people of the prefecture ot
 iroshama, to the citizens of the state
 "To the citizens of the State of
 California.
 "Gentlemen:
 We, the people of the prefecture of Hiroshima in the empire of Japan, who are closely connected with your state must beg, through our repre- tatives, most sincerely to express our earnest desires and appeal to all that is humane and chivalrous in the na- ture of the citizens of your state.
 Now it is long since the people Of the prefecture first went to your state as emigrants and thus formed intimate relationship with your peo- pie and soil. Although their present favorable condition is no doubt large ly due to the facilities provided by your state, it cannot be denied that they have done much in their way Towards the cultivation of the land. Let us give some instances of the fav- orable results of their industry: the marsh of San Okin (Joaquin) which was overgrown with reeds has now has become a very famous potato growing region; the wilderness of Fresno which was in days gone by abandoned to squirrels and other wild raisins that have become renowned all over the world; the desert of the Imperial Valley once called the "Gate of Death" on account of it's high temperature of 130 degrees is now become a famous melon-groWing district, the produce of which is sup piled to every state. All these are the fruits of the industrious labor of our overseas brethern as have been publicly recognized in your country. AS it has been in the past, will it not be in the future? Indeed there is unquestionably no reason to doubt that your countrymen and our breth- ern in your state can continue to help each other for the promotion of their mutual interests. This. we be- 1ieve, must have been quite under stood by the wise and judicious in habitants of your state.
 There is, however, a certain amount of misunderstanding arising from the fundamental difference be, tween your national manners and in- ternal conditions and those of ours, and that feeling of difference has ot late years become deepened and en- bittered, causing a most deplorable disturbance in the friendship of the 1 two nations owing to the gradual in crease of our emigrants.
 This sort of misunderstanding comes mainly from the difficulty o1 conforming our customs and habits tC those of America,-a difficulty which cannot be easily removed and ofter puts us in very difficult position
 But is it possible that this small enough to break long established re lations?
 Now let Us look back for a nom ment into the past relations exist ing between your country and ours America as one of the advanced countries of the world sought the opening of our country to internation al commerce fifty years ago, and did much for our development through her fraternal guidance which is al ways remembered with gratitude Al that time Japan had still so much ia mentable narrowmindeness that she was unwilling to agree to the open ing up of herself and refused tt come in line with the general trend of the world while your country, bas jue it's action uDOn the Christian doc Urine of universal brotherhood took the lead in establishing peace anC friendship between the two count ries But since our national councT decided upon opening up Japan, we have been placing confidence in youl country and have thus been able tC form the more intimate relations witt America than with any other natiOI