Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-17
IOTHING WARL1 KE
IN JAPS' THREAT,
LAWRENCE SAYS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The 5ournal)
Copyright, 1921

Especial Leased Wire to The Journal
Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, April 15,-Time
vas when Washington would have
been in the midst of a real war scare
over relations with Japan had the
! anne situation been duplicated which
Xists in congress today over the
immigration bill.
i For congress is about to brush
side all the pleas from Japan and
override not only the cautiOnary
1Earning expressed by the secretary
f state, Mr.. Hughes, but the petit
ion of the Japanese ambassador.
$uch a perplexing situation may
|nean veto of the immigration bill
( Y President Coolidge. Otherwise, he,
no will be in the position of turning
own his own secretary of state and
Ignoring the protests of a friendly
! oW er. But even if he vetoes the
. i'll, if it was passed by a twothirds
ote and made law. the effect OF the
etc may be to soften in some par
fcUlars the harshness of the action
4 ow contemplated with reference to
,aran.
hThe present problem is not parallel
$lisny that has been presented in the
ljstory of Japanese-America rela-
IONS. The emigration from Japan
= itherto has been controlled by a
gentleman agreement" whereby
Japan has refused to grant pass
orts to any except students and
usiness men, thus cutting off coolie
abor. which has been the chief rea
lon for CALIFORNIA; objection to
japanese immigration.
LaXity Charged to Japs
There have been charges that
Rpan did not enforce the agreement
f Ut the understanding was kept eff
|Fctive largely because the United
tates at the time did not discrimi-
|ate against any other country ex-
1ept China.
Japan did not wish to be placed
y the same category as China. Now,
IoWever, in recent years immigra
on has been restricted from all
Puntrles and only a certain quota,
|hsed upon the number of nationals
each country already in the
United States in a particular year.
3an be admitted. If the quota .sys-
I'm were applied to the Japanese
&ery few would be admitted and the
IbjeCtions of the Japanese probably
bet, but the feeling in congress is
| ch that absolute exclusion is in
| sted upon with respect to all per-
pms who cannot be assimilated as
merican citizens.
1 While many senators gave as their
Ieason for voting for exclusion the
Bitter of the Japanese ambassador,
bat is not the real basis for the
opposition to the Japanese. The far
festern senators have succeeded in
lbnverting their colleagues to their
Feas of exclusion and there is a dis
4osition in the south to assist the
acific coast on this question.
Not First Such Threat
Ambassador Hanihara's Letter was
|ot unlike previous communications
kethe department of state. The Japa-
Csc government always has point
r out the possibility that grave
|bnsequences" might flow from any
discriminatory action by the con-
hess Of the United States. But those
|bmmunications have not been given
1ublicity for the very reason that
he latest note has been "a boomer
Ing. Congress has resented any in
reference by foreign powers in do
bestic legislation. The state depart
hent can receive in confidence pro
lists and yelled threats. That's the
roper channel, but when the notes
|ecome public they are viewed as
bercive tactics and have the oppo'
! tie effect from the one desired.
There was time as late as five
| r six years ago when a war scare
would have followed any such atti-'
Iude as congress now is taking.
Japanese pride might have COM
Selled the Toxic government to back
ID it's notes by the threat to use
1orce. But there is change in the
lelations between Washington and
|'okio. The earthquake not only
! as enfeebled the Japanese navy but
impoverished the country and
brought it face to face with a seri-
] us economic crisis. The u. S. also
as begun to buy more from Japan.
Navy Rivalry Lessened
The rivalry of naval armament
as been curtailed through the re-
+ ent Washington conference treaties
| md there is no longer an Anglo
japanese alliance to worry the
'tatesmen here,
On the whole, the situation has
hanged. No longer-is there a war
ike Japan behind the diplomatic
notes and, possibly, if there were,
II Mould not alter the action OF con-
gre.s because the right to control
40 shall or shall not enter the ter
! fory of the United States Is a SOW
reign right just as zealously guard
4 d here as it is in Toxic.
For the sake of better relations
however, the softeuing of the effects
3f the blow was wanted by the de-
Rartment of state and undoubtedly
both the president and Secretary
I Hughes will continue to use their
Influence to obtain a modified bill
ven though presidential veto may