New-York tribune., 1921-02-25

with infections of certainty indicating
an established and clearly determined
policy.
i, The bluntest speaking was done by
VIscount kato, former Foreign Minister
ana now opposition leader, possibly
the next Premier, which adds weight
to his views. Soft-spoken but crisp
OF word, with face of rugged model
ing IN which heavy eyebrows overhang
narrowed and straight looking ewes, he
looks, as he is, one of Japan's strong
est personalities.
In the differences which the japan
csc immigration question has steadily
sharpened between Japan and America
Nlscount kato has been much con-
ccrned. since it was under his foreign
ministry that the negotiations with
Washington over the California legis-
latlon of 1914 were conducted He has
never concealed the positiveness of his
views on that subject. He does so even
less now.
"The question is naturally irritating
to every Japanese" he said, "and this
plllng it on that we see in the news
papers every day, not only in Califor-
MIA but in one state after another,
does not make it any better. There
is nothing to go to war about, of
course, there is no need to fight it out,
and that would do no good, but it
must remain a source of deep irrita-
ton.
Question of Inferiority Raised
"In my view of the question differ
from my countrymen in considering
not only the question of land owner
ship and similar rights, but the whole
subject OF immigration. l do not be-
ileve we have any need of sending our
surplus population to the American
continent. We have the Asiatic con-
tinent just back of US on which to
settle it. The number of Japanese en-
igrants to the United States would
not be large in any case. But America
nations of Southern and Eastern
Europe, some of which certainly are no
more advanced than Japanese, closes
its doors against Japanese. 1t is this
discrimination against Japanese as an
inferior people that is irritating.
We had hoped that the passing of
time would bring about a change of
feeling and softening of the issue. 1t
was at the instance Of the Japanese
government that the spondence
between the two governments on the
subject was made public six years ago,
in the hope that "a plain statement of
we see what has just transpired. We
still hear that time will settle the
problem. AS I say, it is no cause for
war, but it is irritating to all Jap
anese.'
1T seems agreed on both sidesp I
f said, that immigration is no cause for
rupture, but what of the other subjects
Of dispute between US. problems lying
in the Far East?"
Viscount Kato's reply was emphatic
Let me speak quite frankly" he
/ said. America locks the whole Ameri-
j can continent against us, but it con-
siders itself privileged to interfere in
| foreign questions in all parts Of the
world, especially in the Far East. If it
reserves the American continent to
| itself, while American missionaries stir
up trouble in Corea and the American
. government interferes in China
Here / may interpellate that Wis
/ count Kato is only saying what most
/ Japanese think. 1t is the root differ
( encc between the two countries.
Criticizes Missionaries
On the whole question of American
missionary activity in Corea Viscount
Kato spoke with considerable feeling.
81 was among those who were op-
posed to annexation of Corea," ne said
advocated ltS remaining protecto-
rate. But now, for better or worse,
Corea is Japanese. and must remain
Japanese. The Coreans cannot secure
their independence. The missionaries
would do better if they dissuaded the
Coreans f. m tying"
l interposed tfat that would also be
interfering in politics, although on the
| other side, and it was to the principle
/ of political interference that japanese
/ objected.
Then let \them confne themselves
to making Christians, and we shall not
bject," he said.
With an apology for venturing what
seemed a contradiction, l replied that
rom IA VA n il
was all the American missionaries
were doing. But this is q subject on
which all Japanese and Americans in
| the Far East differ always.