Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-09
REPRESENTATIVE
!. KAHN TAKES UP
JAP QUESTION
Describes the Feeling Cali
fornians Hold Regarding
Laboring Class.
NO WAR WITH JAPAN
FORESEEN BY HIM
Declares America is Not
Working Herself Into a
Frenzy.

w Val &3AAA6 AASA SSAA AAAS~ -
Frenzy. /
Washington, Dec. 9.--Discussing the
Japanese question freely and frankly !
in a carefully prepared address deliv-
cred today in the house, Representa-
tive Kahn, of California, chairman OF
the military committee, declared that
America hoped always to avoid war,
and that if "the statesmen, the pub
licists and the politicians, the agitat-
ors and the demigods of Japan" real
ly wanted war with the United States
they would be the ones to bring 1t on
and not the Americans.
Mr.. Kahn said he knew that he
voiced "the earnest hope and wish OF
every patriotic American that peace
between the two countries may con-
tinue perpetually."
But the world" he said, has only
recently learned that we are not too
proud to fight, nor are we afraid to
fight when we are forced into war;"
The military committee chairman
took occasion to reaffirm his belief
that universal military training poll
cy would best safeguard the country
and added:
No War Foresecn.
IT have no fear that there will be
. war between Japan and the United
States in my lifetime, nor even in the
lifetime of my sons and am thor
oughly satisfied that If my country re-
mains measurably prepared there will
be no difficulty between the two ma
uons at any time"
Mr.. Kahn briefly reviewed the his
tory of the relations between the Unit
ed, States and Japan and with regard
to the Japanese immigration problem
in California, now the subject of treaty
negotiations between the two govern
ments said students Of international
law everywhere had recognized the
absolute right" of any nation to reg
ulate immigration as it deemed best.
Even Japanese students were familiar
with university accepted decisions on
this point, he said, and added:
1T is therefore most unfortunate
that constant agitation regarding
these matters is maintained by our
neighbor across the Pacific because
the final effect of such propaganda and
agitation undoubtedly is, totsinstiH q
pronouHeed hatred OF AnieFica and
Americans among the masses in Jap
Van. saas.iz;- .s, ~ - .ss..t
3 d.. Il1l6 10 d 1OcClOeUlyg"
condition of affairs Indeed, I say it is
IA most serious condition. condition
that may result, unfortunately, in
grave difficulties between two hereto
fore friendly nationa"
No Prejudice.
The speaker said many public Of
ficials in, Japan as we'll as political
agitators had tried to make the
migration of Japanese laborers into
the United States was biased upon ra.
cial prejudice s.i
I'VE of the Pacific coast deny thai
this is the case" he declared. Mo OBJ
lection has ever been made to the ad
mission into this country of Japanese
, professional men, Of Japanese tinan
ciers of Japanese religious teachers
of leaders of bonafide Japanese mer
chants, Of Japanese students, of Jap
anese travellers. The sole objection i
to the laboring class.
whether the undesirables be farm
laborers, skilled mechanics or un
skilled coolies, l contend that the OBJ
lection is purely an economic ones
Japan herself is doing to the laborer
Of China and Korea what she claim
is racial hate or prejudice when don
by us to Japanese laborers."
Representative Kahn called atten
tion to newspaper dispatches quoting
Count Okuma. head of the Japanes
peace society, as having said that
the United States restricted Japanes
immigration by statute instead Of b.
voluntary action of Japan,srthe latte
rather than suffer such prejudice t
her prestige must resort to force"
Surely" Mr.. Kahn said, "the hea
of the peace society of Japan does no
advocate the taking up Of arms agains
the United States as indicated in tn
newspaper articles"
From his reading Of Japanese his
tory. Representative Kahn said, h
was sometime inclined to believe tina
there arc many more political agitat
, 'ors and demigods on the other side Q
the Pacific than we can possibly fin
In our own country"
America Not Excited.
Happily" he continued, I'VE l.
America are not worked into frenz
pcnings."
Mr.. Kahn recalled the recent Incl
dent at Tien Tsin where America
soldiers had been found in the Jap
anese police station by the America
consul general, wounded and beate
when ''the Japanese officers denie
This incident, he declared, was !
a fair way of amicable adjustment be
tween the governments, adding:
The American people have neve
become excited over the affair. Yo
hear no threat of war on the part Q
American statesmen, politicians q
even demagods."
Are the Japanese trying to brin
about the worlds old conflict betwee
the white races and the yellow On
s>brown races?" asked Mr.. Kahn. Z.
sincerely hope not, but ii is 9 Questio
which the statesmen of all liberty loy
/ Ing, democratic nations and people
II Will do well to study and bear cor
Z st&ntly in mind" +
ONLY TWO PARDONS.
Madison, Wis.,. Dec. S.-Only tw
complete pardons were granted b
Governor Philip Of the twenty-fou
applications considered last nigh
Geven eleventh hour requests for re
iease OF prisoners remained for cor
sideration today.