Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-04-20
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR
SENDS SECOND letter TO
HUGHES ON IMMIGRATION
4 (By The Associated Press)


disclaimer Of any intent to convey "a
veiled threat" in the use of the phrase
"grve consequences in his recent COM
munication to Secretary Hughes protest
ing againt the japanese exclusion fea-
ture Of the immigration bill is made by
Ambassador Hanihara in a second let
ter to the secretary made public today
and characterized by Mr.. Hughes as q
frank and friendly explanation"
The ambassadors letter and reply
by the secretary were made public by
the state department, Mr.. Hughes letter
saying that in the light Of the context
Of ne original letter and prevailing
| friendship and understanding between
| the two countries he had no doubt that
these words grave consequences) were
| TO be taken in the same sense you have
stated. and was quite sure that il was
far from your thought to express or
imply any threat"
The spondence was made public
after Secretary Hughes had given much
Of his time for the past two days to n
cons siderGtion Of the international is
sues involved. He conferred today with
President Coolidge and before receipt
! Of the ambassadors second letter had
been advised Of the desire Of officials
Of the embassy to have an explanation
on the language Of the protest placed
before the public.
What effect the explanation may have
on the pending exclusion legisla-
tion in congress was not apparent to-
night. Senator Lodge. chairman Of the
~ rain ftaa
who in senate debate characterized the
phrase grave consequences rs
"veiled threat" in recent days has con-
ferred with President Coolidge on the
question and leaders in congress desir-
ed opportunity to study the language
Of the latest letter before appraising
the situation.
Steps to sen dthe immigration bin to
conference were taken at the capitol
today and conferees are expected to be-
gin work without delay.
It is understood that the ambassador
made his explanation with the approval
Of the Toxic foreign office which had
given its explicit endorsement to the
wording Of the letter. Both communi-
cations. however. were made public
without comment
The letter written by Secretary
Hughes TO the ambassador said: Il am
gratifed to receive your letter Of the
18th instant with your frank and
friendly explanation Of the intent or
your recent note in relation TO the inn
pending immigration BILL 1t gives me
pleasure to be able to assure you that
reading the words grave consequences
in the light Of their context and know
ing the spirit of friendship and under
standing you have always manifested
in our long association, had no doubt
that these words were TO be taken in
the sense you have stated. and | was
quite sure that il was far from your
thought TO express or imply any threat
| am happy to add that have deeply
appreciated your constant desire to pro-
mote the most cordial relations between
the peoples Of the two countries.
with high esteem. | am. my lear
Mr.. Hanihara. Very sincerely yours.
Charles Z. Hughes"
Ambassador Hanihara's letter under
date of April IL. said:
MY dear Mr.. Secretary:
I'm reading the Congressional Rec
of April Il. 1924. find that the letter
addressed to you on April 10. a copy
of which you sent to the chairman of
the senate committee on immigration
was made a subject of discussion in the
senate. In the record it is reported that
some Of the senators expressed the op.
inion. which was apparently accepted
by many other members of that body.
that my letter contained "A veiled
threat As it appears from the record
that it is the phrase grave conse-
sequences which | used in the conclud-
ing part of my letter that some Of the
senators construed as "A veiled threat
] may be permitted to quote here full
text Of the sentence which contained the
words in question.
"'Relying upon the confidence you
have been good enough to show me at
all times. have stated. or repeated all
this to you very candidly and in a most
friendly spirit, for / realize, ms I be-
lieve you do. the grave consequences.
which the enactment Of the measure
retaining that particular provision
would inevitably bring upon the other
wise happy and mutually advantageous
relations between our two countries
Frankly. l must say am unable to
understand how the two words. read In
their context. could be construed as
meaning anything like a threat. I sim
ply tried to emphasize the most unfor-
tunate and deplorable affect upon our
traditional friendship which might re-
suit frcm the adoption Of a particular
clause in the proposed measure. It
would seriously impair the good and
mutually helpful relationship and dis
pun pIuSsI Isnlnu 10 ,gI!ds 0q, q1n1
confidence, which charnctcriIes our in
tercourse Of the last three quarters Of