The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-06-20
When Alien ENJOYS Transgress


Your editorial on tho tempest IN
a teapot" caused BY the Italian am.
hassador's speech on the tariff
draws attention 10 commendahle
change OF attitude on the part Of
congress and tho administration
toward attempts By foreign eoun-
tries 20 influence American lesisla,
ton.
According 70 recent prev notices
senator Lodge. Senator Reed And
Senator Watson. Of Indiana. we're
Indignant not only At Ambassador
Ricelr speech on the tariff and on
the prohIblsinn and immigration
questions. but also NJ spccches b.
Str Auckland CeddeS tho British
Ambassador. relative 20 the tariff
and ship subsidy bills. ard at
speeches By British. French and
italian consular agents along the
same limos. Senator Lodge filod
protest with Secretary Of state
Hughes against ,his species Of
propaganda whils Senator Watson
10 quoted as saying that Foreigners
are coming hers ard telling us how
to run our country. what laws We
are gotnx to pasa and Ars intnrv
fesinG with our 6osnnsiio Attain"
Tho outcome sppears 10 be thar
both Ambassadors Iuec and Sir
Auckland Gcdcss ara due 70 vtsl'
their respective countries In Tho
near future and that thcre Il a
|strong likelihood that neither VIII
return to this country In an offielai
capacity.
This vigorous protest By our ma
sionai spokenrnen indicates a notable
change OF policy and ono Of especial
ssgnircanDs to tho Pacific Coast.
Last March the JapaneDs consul
made n speech in this city In which
he told us how IN his opinion We
ought 20 approach the questions Of
immigration and land ownership.
He also took occaaion 70 refer 10
what he characterized as tho dds
torted statistics on the Japanese
birth rate given out hy tho state
director OF health. Discussing this
speech you said editoriaily that ''ths
recall OF tho Japanese consul = the
only step which can atone for tho
insult offered the American people,
Tho attitude OF tho government
at that time was In marked contrast
10 It's present attitude. No notice
was taken OF tho japanese coneui's
attempt 10 tell us how We should
daal with the question Of Japanese
immigration. but when now the
Italian Ambassador attsmpts 70 toll
US how we should deal with tho
question OF Italian immigration our
state department. apparently obtains
his recall. when the Japanese con.
sul criticised our alien land iawF
Washington WA not interested. but
II now takes serious exception TO
the British Ambassadors breaches
OF courtesy" and ''pcrnicious inter
ference" In commenting on the
tariff and shlp subsidy bills. The
Japanese cousul's charge that on
official OF this sovereign state has
distorted" figures relating 20 the
Japanese birth rate caused our ma.
tlonal officials no .offcnso. but
speeches by tho British. French and
Italian consular agents In New York
preventing the views Of their re.
apective countries on our proposed
tariff law bring forth a storm OF
senatorial protest against this ape
cies Of propaganda"
The fact II that Japan Is engaged
In n moro extensive campaign of
propaganda in this country than all
tho European countries combined
Thru churches and missionary socie
ties. thru magazine and syndlcatod
Newspaper articles. thru banking,
shipping. railroad and business con-
nections. thru tho employment OF
attorneys and other agents holding
positions enabling them to influence
Legislation or public opinion. and
thru speeches and writings by their
diplomatic and consular officials tho
Japanese arc endeavorinR insldious-
ly TO anesthetizo the American ma.
ton until they have planted their
people irrcmovabiy upon our soil.
| IL II encouraging TO note that
Washington has been aroused 10 re.
sistance against such efforts by for.
eign governments TO Influence our
control OF our domestic affairs; and
It is TO be hoped that this resistance
will not be directed In future against
European propaganda only. but will
be directed with equal ennrgy
against the propaganda by which
Japan Is seeking 70 stifie opposition
to the admission OF It's immigrants.
PHILIP TINDALL.