Evening star., 1924-04-21
DENIES HANIHARA
AROUSED CONGRESS
Exclusion Voted to End Gentle
mems Agreement" House
Chairman Says.

Realization that the "gentlemens $
agreement" with Japan had failed to
accomplish its purpose, and not the
letter of Ambassador Hanihara pro-
testing against proposed termina-
tion of it by the United States
prompted Congress to write a Japa- :
nese exclusion provision in the immi-
grafton bill. Chairman Johnson of the
iouS" immigration committee de-
clared today in a statement.
Representative Johnson said Con
Eress had decided To terminate the
agreement for the following reasons:
1T has failed TO accomplish the
purpose for which President Roose-
Welt explained it was made, to-wit.
to prevent an increase OF unaS-
Stmilable Japanese population in con-
tinental United States as the eXclu-
sion act had done with the Chinese
population. RooSeveltS understand
ing with Japan was that If the gen
tlemrnS agreement in operation
failed to accomplish the agreed pur-
pose an exclusion act would be put
in force.
Prerosatiye of Congress.
immigration il 4 domestic ques-
tiou. regulation of which is the sole
prerogative OF Cor gress. The gen
tiemen's agreement is an invasion of
that prerogativc by another depart
ment of the government.
There is much misund erStanGins
and some sStatementS," Mr.. John
son said, "aS to the reasons which in
fiuenced Congress in passing that
provision of the immigration bill
which excludes hereafter as perma-
- T,A.E Al h.,
iEih!e to citizenship. and which
hereby terminates tho gentlemen 5
agreement with Japan.
There is an impression first thai
the action was occasioned by resent
ment at the letter of Ambassador
Hanihara. Long before that letter
appeared, the measure was assured
of passage in the House, and a poll
in the Senate on the day before
showed, | am told, at least fifty four
votes certain for the exclusion fea-
ture. The Hanihara letter forced a
| practically unanimous action on the
part of the Senate. The House, how
ever, had voted over four To one be-
fore the letter appeared"
surrenders Sovereign Right.
The gentlemen's agreement gives
Japan the right to say how many
and what particular Japanese shall
come into United States territory,
sovereign right in a purely domestic
question.
'Immig grafton from all other cpun-
tries of the globe. except Japan, is
| regulated under general or special
act of Congress. To continue the
present arran cement with Japan
would Justify any or all other cOun-
tries in demanding q similar priyi-
fege.
This concession to the Japanese is
L discrimination in their favor and
against all other races Ineligible TO
citizenship. including the Chinese and
Hindus, and is in consequence losing
US the good will of those people
The immigration bill. with its ex-
ciuSlon provision, was discussed by
President Coolidge today with Sena-
tor Reed. republican, Pennsylvania,
who had charge of the Legislation in
the Senate.
The Pennsylvania senator declined
to comment on the conference. which
was considered significant in some
quarters, inasmuch as it was held
prior to the first meeting Of the
House and Senate conferees charged
with harmonizing differences in the
measure as it passed the two houses