Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-14
Would Greatly Hinder
r. Work B e un At
( Washington A rm s
! Conference Points
, Out Exclusion of Jap
Aliens Violation of
1911 Treaty - Pro-
poses Substitute, Adj
hitting Less Than
$50 Year

Washington, Feb. 13--Proposals Of
Single out japanese Immigrants for
exclusions" are "inconslstant" with
the treaty OF 1911 and should be elm
mated, Secretary Hughes informed
Chairman Johnson Of the house COM
mittee in a letter made public today
at the state department.
IL believe such legislative action
would largely undo the work Of the
Washington conference on Limitation
OF armament which so greatly i'm
proved our relations with Japan" Mr..
Hughes warned Representative John
son.
AS Il substitute for the exclusion
proposals the secretary suggested
that Japan be placed on the same
quota basis as other nations and that
the migrant certificate plan now in
the bill to provide for selection abroad
be made applicable to japanese ma
tionals. Active cooperation of the
Japanese government in carrying out
this plan and also in preventing sur
reptitiuus entry of japanese was to
be expected, Mr.. Hughes continued.
adding:
1T ~ believed that such an agree
mcnt, involving a double control over
the japanese quota of less than 25O
a Year (under the 2 percent quota
based on the 1890 censIs. as propos-
ed in the bilD would accomplish a
much more effective regulation OF I'M
desirable classes of japanese immi-
grants than 1t would DC practicable
for us, with or long land frontier
limo on both north and south. to ac-
romplish by attempting to establish a
general bar against japanese sub
jccts to the loss of cooperation with
the Japanese government
Publication of tho letter to Chair
man johnson. dated February 5, FOL
lowed a series of wnito house con-
ferences on the questions involved.
Chairman Johnson first discussed the
subject with President Coolidge ana
then with Secretary Hughes. Later
the president saw Secretary hughes
in the Same connection and still later
talked with Secretary Davis or the
Labor department. At the conclusion
nf these various conferences. the ad-
ministration viewpoint of the Japa-
ncse anglo of the immigration htil
was summed up as follows in Mr.
lIUElltS ltlitt
Il am unable to perceive that inc
exclusion provision ~ necessary. ana
| must strongly urge upon you the
advisability in the interest OF our
International relations, of eliminating
IL.
"rhc japanese government mas a.
roodv brought the matter TO the at
trntion of the department or state
and there is the deepest interest In
the attitude of congress with respect
to this subject
Commenting on Mr.. Hughes letter
which he will lay before his commit
tee tomorrow, Chairman Johnson
predicted it would not change the
committees view that the exclusion
proyision should remain in the NH
ITc pointed out that fourteen OF the
seventeen members of the committee
had approved the provision, add,hE
that his own stand In favor OF 'na'
provision had not been chankcd.
"If the suggestion OF Secre'aiH
Hughes means that Immigration IL
TO hc arranged only by treaty. zee,
pretty sure that the committee VIII
not accent It," Chairman Johnson
said