The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-11
lRx Associated Press.l

TOKIO. June 1O.-More sordid motives than those of patriotism are backing the anti-American agl- :, tation which has faced enactment in the United States of an immlgra- tion law barring the Japanese n : opinion of government officials ana business men here. According to statements made by them today, the agitation is being | supported by certain. Japanese busi- ness men and manufacturers who z desire to eliminate foreign compe.. , tition in the Japanese markets and who have seized on the situation created by passage of the exclusion provision as means to that end.
 The same sources expressed the De- lief that the anti-American agitation had passed its peak in the demonstra- tion at the Imperial hotel Saturday Tn which dance attended both by tor- eixners and Japanese, was broken up by a gang of intruders who took pos session of the dance floor and made insulting and profane anti-American speeches.
 Dangerous clements still persist in the situation, officials admitted today, but they asserted their cvnf.dence that the worst was over.
 Agitation Is Artificial
 Officials assert that much of the agitation noted thus far has been ob- viously artificial with the participants mostly from two classes of people; first young men, mostly students and sec ond .'Soshi" or class gangmen, cor responding to political gangmen in the United States. The majority of the people are not supporting the violent demonstrations. according to officials
 The "Soshi" are usually employed here as political ruffians, and ire quently are able to exercise consider able influence by intimidatins methods. The average Japanese has wholesome fear of them, police pro- ,satAction against them not having always
 sufficient.
 ns1shi at present seem to be %6Tking under the names of half a dozen patriotic" societies. such as the Black Dragon society and the ''Great Forward society" Much of the boycott movements have been car ried out by such groups, officials say at the behest of hidden influences. | Resentment Is Widespread
 Both officials and business men admit. however, that intimidation does not entirely account for the boycott movement and that there is no doubt that there exists widespread resentment against the American immigration law
 Another factor in cutting down th' demand for American goods is thu movement started even before the i'm migration question came to the front to curtail imports of luxuries as a means of balancing trade. Imports were heavy following the earthquake disaster of last fall and the unfavor' able balance of trade became so large that the demand found hearing even in official circles for economy in for eign luxuries as a measure of national economic necessity.
 The native manufacturers seized upon the economy propaganda at once as a means of increasing their own markets and found the anti-American resent ment following enactment of the ex- clusion law an additional factor in their favor.
 Sir Rabindra Nath Tagore. the In dian poet, declared ill an address tC 2,000 students here that India felt keen ly with Japan in the 'indignity," she had suffered" by the exclusion of her nationals from America.
 Yesterdays editorial in the Nich Nichi, condemning demonstrations sucf as that a tthe Imperial hotel Satur day evening was not inspired by tht government, the foreign office said to day, but did express the views of of ficial Japan.
 The editorial urged patriotic citi zens," not to commit reckless acts which would invited misunderstanding.