The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-30
us. MAY HOLD UP
ALL IMMIGRATION
PENDING NEW LAW
House and Senate Leaders
Said to Favor Tenn
porary Exclusion.
FULL INQUIRY WANTED
Proposal Designed to Allay
LabOr's Fears and Also
Appease Japan.
NO RISKS SEEN IN DELAY
Careful Revision of Law Is
Urged After Study of
Entire Situation.
FULL INQUIRY WANTED
NO RISKS SEEN IN DELAY
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALr.
New York Herald Burean,

Srscfut Despatch 10 HE NEW YORK thRALI'
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C.. Nov. 90.
Congress may suspend temporarily
all immigration to the United States
except of persons who have close rela-
lives here, the suspension to remain
III effect until such time as careful
consideration can be given to the en-
tire problem and q detailed revision
of the present immigration laws
brought about.
This idea is being fostered primarily
by Chairman Johnson of the House
Committee on immigration, and is un-
derstood to have at least qualified sup
port already from other leaders OF the
House and Senate, including Senator
Sterling (S. d. member of the SEN
ate immigration Committee, who has
completed a personal study of immi-
grafton conditions at the port of New
York
The proposal to suspend temporarily
immigration "a this country from every
where in the world not only would allay
the fears of labor and the public gener-
ally which have been aroused by reports
Of the great horde of immigrants about
to invade this country from Europe and
the Near East. but 1t would give to the
state Department a breathing spell in
dealing with the Japanese immigration
and alien land ques ion, which has as
suuned serious proportions since the ap-
proval by the people OF California of the
Gnti-alien landholding law
Conference Is Held.
y, In fret. the Information that certain
House and Senate leaders had decided to
propose this course of action by the
United States followed conference to-
day between Mr.. johnson and Roland
Morris, United States Ambassador to
Jaran.
II the plan goes through the whole
questi On of immigration TO this country
would be thrown over for solution to tho
Harding Administration. and meantime
the United States would run no risks
from delay that surely would follow any
attempt to change present immigration
laws.
Mr. johnson believes It will be much
tdslcI 10 get 1OHEItSS W pass a iNSS-
luton this winter temporarily suspend
ing all immigration. pending leisurely
revision of the law. than to get a general
immigration bill enacted at this time.
II is understood Ambassador Morris
agreed with Mr.. Johnson that the Japan
ese Government would not find fault
with the complete exclusion OF its sub
tect from this country If the same law
applied to all other countries. II is only
discrimination against the Japanese that
has aroused their resentment.
May Seek Settlement.
As part of the understanding il be-
came known to-day that the State De-
partment is planning to hold conferences
with Representatives In Congress and
with Governors of States and other per-
sons interested before reaching a final
decision relative to the informal nego-
tiations which have been in progress
with Japan concerning the California
situation and the general question of
Japanese immigration This Is under
stood here to mean that the Wilson Ad-
ministration will not undertake to settle
the Japanese immigration question. 1t
will beaueath IL TO its successor in Of
flee. Just as the Taft administration
passed on the Mexican problem to Presi-
dent Wilson.
The present understanding on the part
OF the State Department. however. will
. not preclude any action japan way wish
TO take looking forward to determine
| tion by the United States courts of the
constitutionallty of the California alien
| land law.
Representative Johnson feels that the
introduction OF general immigration
bill would result in a prolonged discus
son I'm the House, which is not desired
by Republican leaders at this time He
believes the passage of a bill calling for
suspension Of all Immigration can be
passed readily and will solve all out
standing problems until such time as an
immigration bill could be prepared for
Inauguration by President Harding
The necessity of quick action on the
immigration question is emphasized by
the fact that the emergency passport
legislation, through which immigration
is now controlled, expires March 4.