The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-29
COOLIDGE HALTS
EXCLUSION Of
JAPANESE
Decides Not to. Accept Bill
and Seeks 60 Days Time
to Solve Problem.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES.
International News Service.

President Coolidge has decided
not to accept the japanese exclu-
sion legislation, passed overwhelm-
ingly by both Houses of Congress,
without struggle and a test of
strength between the executive
and legislative branches Of the
Government.
Confronted by the insistence of.
Secretary Of State Hughes and
subjected to the enormous pres
sure being exerted by the organ
lied church interests Of the coun-
try that some method be found to
soothe Japan's wounded pride, the
President sought today a respite
OF sixty days in which to find a
way out of the perplexing situa-
tion.
Hughes L. Hopeful.
In this period, Secretary of State
Hughes is hopeful Of hitting upon
q solution of the question that will
satisfy the exclusjonistS in Congress
ana at the same time apply q poul.
tice to Japanese feeling.
Whether 1t can be accomplished,
however, appeared extremely prob
lematical today.
As originally drawn, the House
bill would make Japanese exclusion
effective July 1, when the present
immigration law expires. Smarttng
under the sting Of Ambassador
Hanihara's grave consequences"
letter, the Senate passed a bill max.
ing exclusion effective Immediately.
The two bills. are now in con.
ference. Coolidge has asked and
probably will obtain an agreement
on the July l date fixed by the
House.
Can Lick" ANY Treaty.
With this bill on his desk, it was
pointed out today, the President
could send 1t back to the Capitol
with request that the exclusion
provision be modified. This un.
doubtedly would be promptly turned
down, but, in the meantime, Secre.
tary Hughes might be able to
negotiate a treaty with japan that
would supersede legislation.
Any such treaty, however, would
have to be ratified by the Senate
by two-thirds vote, and the Pacific
Coast legislators who are backing
the exclusion declared today they
could click any treaty" that was
aimed so specifically at defeating
the will Of Congress.
This plan, too, has aroused the
resentment Of members of the
House, who declared todAt they did
not intend to allow Secretary
hughes to thus eliminate the House
IN any such settlement of the prob.
lem. The House has nothing to saw
about International treaties-hence
the resentment.
Plan Is FOrlOrn One.
The Administration plan appears
at best to be forlorn one, in view
Of the temper Of Congress, but it is
indicative Of the manner in which
the State Department is grasping
at any plan by which the blow to
Japan's racial pride may be soft
ened.
Failing in this, President Coolidge
would have recourse only to a
straight veto-with the strong prob
ability existing that the bill would
be passed over his veto.
In the opinion Of most of Presi-
dent Coolidge's political advisers, a
veto would be a very severe blow
at Coolidge's chances of carrying
the West, for Pacific Coast senti-
ment for Japanese exclusion is over
whelming.
Some Of the Presidents advisers
have told him If he vetoed the bill
he would lose every electoral vote
west Of the Rockies" This may or
may not be exaggerated, but it is
indicative Of the political fears be-
ing entertained in connection with
the entire question.