The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-02-02
NEW TREATY
WITH JAPAN
Senator Makes Attack on Pro-
posed Japanese Agreement
SAYS 1T is CAMOUFLAGE
Colby Declares Californian at
Error in Matter and Unduly
Alarmed

Washington. Jan. 29.-Thc attack
on the proposed agreement between
Japan and the United States as to the
status of japanese i'm this country
which was made today by Senator
Johnson, of California, was charac-
terizod by Secretary Of STATE Colby in
Il statement tonight as proceeding
upon a quite erroneous assumption
as to the trend and purport of the
conversations which have been going
on for some weeks between Ambas-
sador Morris and the Japanese am
bassador"
The PLAN for agreement is now
before the two governments and was
said by Senator Johnson on the basis
Of statements from authoritative
sources" as to its provisions to mean
in the end "a continuance of Japan
csc immigration and increase i'm the
Japanese population in the west"
In his statement of reply tonight
Secretary Colby said that Senator
Johnson was mot uniformed as to
the course Of these conversations and
| am therefore surprised that he
should feel called upon to throw him
self into a defensive posture against
dangers which he described, but
which, 1 am Informed. he has been
assured do not present themselves.
The state department is charged
wit the duty Of pursuing these i'm
portant discussions with sober regard
to the facts the. secretary's state
ment continued, "and this it has
sought to do with a proper considera-
ton for every interested point of
view
Il am not speaking in any spirit OF
criticism of Senator Johnson, with
whom | have long had the most agree
able and friendly relations, but he
must know, as a member of the for
eign reiationS committee of the SEN
ate, that even if the fear to which nc
gives expression. that the state de-
partm"nt is moving too rapidly in the
direction of a treaty that treaty
! can have no effect without it's sub
mission in due course to the senate,
and, under the latter's practice, its
minute examination by the senator's
committee"
Senator Johnson issued a statement
| cl iticizing the reported agreement be-
J tween Japanese Ambassador Shidah-
ara and American Ambassador Morris
dealing with the status of Japanese
i'm America.
When stripped of diplomatic cam
outage" senator Johnson said, that
reliable information he had regarding
/ the agreement was that it provided
for repeal Of California's anti-alien
laws
new "gentlcmcns agreement for
exclusion of Japanese which does
not CNClIdc" also is proposed, Sena-
cor johnson declared.
Senator Johnsons statement fol-
lows:
From authoritative sources it is
stated that the agreement between
Ambassadors Shdahara and Norris
embraces CD an exchange of diplo-
matte notes defining passport regula-
tions, etc, which would tighten up
the present gentlcman's agreement
relating to exclusion of Japanese from
this country, and o. a treaty defining
the rights Of the nationals of each
country, and which will, in effect,
abrogatc and destroy the alien land
laws of he state of California.
stripped of diplomatic camoufiage
lhlS means that our representative
and JapantS have agreed upon the re-
peal of the land laws passed by the
state of California and prohibit the
passage of those contemplated by
many other western states Japan
has ever insisted upon the control OF
her own people, and. therefore, will
not agree to an exclusion treaty, but
Will enter into a so-called gentlemcn's
agreement which will not exclude. The
new gentlemen's agreement, notwith-
standing its additional phases can bo
just as loosely administered as the
present one, and just as in the case
of the present gentlemen's agreement
it will be honored more ia the breach
than in the observance. The result
will be under the suggested arrange
ment, If adopted, n continuance OF
Japan's immigration and increase i'm
the japanese population in the west"