The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-15
III a n i ara Letter To
Hughes Is Termed
"Impertinent'
EXCLUSION ACT
THOUGHT CERTAIN
Enough S treng t h Is
Claimed To Repass
Measure Over Veto
LODGE DEMANDS
CLOSED SESSION
Long-awaited TRADE OF John .
son Uncorked Behind.
Closed Doors

ate today answered Ambassador Han1-
hara's protest against japanese exclu-
sion legislation by voting, 76 to 2,
against recognition of the 'gentlemen's
agreement" with Japan on the immigra-
ton question.
This action is preliminary to
adoption by the Senate by an over
whelming majority of the House Jap
anese exlusion provision.
Whatever the result would have been
without the incident of the Ambassa-
doris letter, that communication served
to change the votes of number of ad-
ministration leaders, including Senator
Lodge, Massachusetts,, chairman of the
foreign relations committee.
A "Veiled Threat"
He informed the Senate in open ses-
sion that he regarded the Hanihara let
ter as a yelled threat" and declared
that in the face of that threat he could
not support the immigration commits
sion's proposal to recognize by law the
"gentlemen's agreement"
| Other senators took the same view
and only one voice, that of Senator
Sterling, republican, South Dakota.
was raised in defense of the ambassa-
doris action. Senator Colt, chairman
of the immigration committee, Joined
| Senator Sterling in the vote, but did
not speak.
Senators generally threw off the
usual restraints in dealing with inter
national questions. They were blunt
and outspoken in their declarations
! that in view CT the grave conse-
Quences" warning in the ambassadors
letter there was nothing for them to do
but to make it clear once and for all
! that immigration is domestic question,
in the handling OF which no in
dependent power seelila haze it,
/ sovereignty questioned.
1879 Esnfers With President
While the debate proceeded. Secre-
| tary Hughes, who transmitted Mr.,
Hanihara's letter. to the House, and
Senate immigration committee. last
week, twice conferred with President
Coolidge. He declined to say what the
nature of the conversations had been.
After the vote which eliminated the
| language framed by the committee to
| legalize the ''gentlemen's agreement"
Senator Reed, republican, Pepnsyl-
vania, who is actively in charge # the
immigration bill, gave notice that an
exclusive amendment would be drafted
overnight in the same language as that
employed in the bill which the House
passed last week, by a majority of more
than four to one. This insures that
whatever difference may arise on other
points between tehe two houses in COM
plotting the immigration bill, the jap
anese exclusion provision bill viii go to
the President.
Could Pass Veto
TOday's Senate developments seemed
to indicate that there would be suffici-,
ent votes in both Houses to repass the
bill over a veto, should the President
take that course. Senat republican
leaders were frank, however, in private
ly expressing the opinion that the
President would sign the immigration
measure, despite the fact that through
Secretary Hughes the administration
has consistently resisted japanese ex-
clusiOn legislation.
Senator Lodge diverted the Senate
from a partisan war of words, moving
Unexpectedly for an executive session
to consider the japanese phase of the
immigration bill. A brief closed SEES.
sion followed during which Senator
johnson, republican, California; made
his long-awaited address in favor Of
japanese ex fusion.
Objects To Closed Session
At this point Senator Harrison,
democrat, Mississippi, objected to fur.
Their consideration of the subject in
secret, declaring that the people were
entitled to know what was being said
and done in the Senate. Senator
Lodge then withdrew his motion ;, the
doors were reopened and the debate
went forward.
While no record was taken of Sem
ator Johnston's address, and the senator
spoke without notes, 1t was disclosed
that he had characterized the Hani-
hara letter as ''impertinent" and as a
communication which could not be
tolerated" by even a fourth class pow
err. He added that it was "monstrous"
that Secretary Hughes had not replied
in kind instead of transmitting the let
ter to Congress.
Asserting that he would only repeat
what he had said in executive session,
Senator Lodge declared he always had
been very friendly to the Japanese.
people and had intended to do all in
his power to make the legislation in
the present bill as easy for them and
for their feelings as possible.
Fundamental Problem
But, the question of immigration,
he added, sis perhaps the greatest OF
LuHudmtlldA SONcTelSHf ~ r.
country cannot say who kNANq
the country, it has ceased to be- a sovs
ereign country; it has become "a SUBJ
ject country.
II regret tn say that the letter adj
dressed to our state department iby the
ambassador from Japan seems to me
letter improper to be addressed by the
representative of one great country to
another friendly country. 1t contains,
regret to say, yelled threat.
1.-THE United States cannot legislate
by the exercise by any other country
Of yelled threats. Owing to this. what
we are now doing, therefore, assumes
the character of an international pfece-
dent and 1 think it should be understood
and understood by the whole world, that
the United States alone is to say who
shall come into the United States to
form part of il, citizenship"
Senator Reed of Pennsylvania voiced
like sentiments.
Secs Diplomatic Waste
The letter Of the Japanese ambassa-
DOR" he said, puts the unpleasant