The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-01

~AIcA k@N-ScCx4AI&buk 0- me s1apHnfHp government WAS 10 protect tlleir uafiun- als from discriminatory in1mixrzfiun leglslatl0n in the United Srares. Tlu4 position of Japsn wRs fully understood and appreciated by the American lzuv- ernment, and 1t Was with thRsp ir0r- alterations m view thHt the HxiEriuy treaty was signed and -ehe eNrharrEe FIf its ratification effected.
 ~In this situation. while rezer,zlirv for another eccasian the presertHtijun of the question of legal rerhuir,aTiir whether and how far the 1IrariEiuns ,Tlf section l3 co of the immigration .lr.t Of 1924 are inconsistent with rhe frr-u1s ot the treaty of 1911. the JapHnese .yer- ernment desire now to point uTrf fl,H- the new legislation is in entire dizrezHrT of the SpTrit and circumstances 441n+ underlle the conclusion of the rrea+x
 With regard to the sn-caIled .-en- tleme7s agreement it wil be rpcnIled that Tt was designed on the one hHin1- to meet the actnal requirements of 1ite situation as perceived by the AmarirsTn government concerning JHpHnes Iu- m1sra ton. and, on the other, 10 lTru1-iflR against the possible demand in flle UnTSed States Tor a statutory exclusion which would offend the just susrel,- abilities of the Japanese people. T'Ie arrangements came into force in 790S. Its ft1clency has been proved in fact. The figures given in the znnual 1-enoFt ot the United StEtes commissioner syen- eral of immigration aufhnritafivslE show that during the 15 years from 1908 to 1923 the excess. in number. aF Japanese admitted to soutinefrtal nlted Statcs, over those who deI4ar-1e,l was no m0re than S.6Sl. affar4tllar including not enly immigrants af the AborIng class. but also m-rchsruts. sin dentk- and other nOn-labOrers and mon immigrants. the numbers which natural ly increased with the growth d rnm- mercial. intellectual and Earial rela- tiens betWern the two countries. F even so limited a number should in any way be found emlIarraEsin< 1p fhe United States. the JRpauHse govern ment. have already manifested fhsir readiness to revise the existing Rrr4nse- ment with a view to further HmftHfiun of emigration.
 Cannot Continue
 Cnfortunately, however. the sweep ing provisions of the next net. rrleHrIv Iu1icat tive of discrimination a-alnsyt Japanese. have made II impossible fur Japan to continue the undertakInrss a<- snmed under the gentlemen s agreement An understanding of friendly ce-o1,erA- ton reached after long and eomureifers- s:Te discussions between 1he JRpaneSe and American governments has rhus been abruptly 1verfhrown by legislative action on the part of the United Sfates- The patient, loyal. and scrupulans ol.- servance by Japan for more than lr years, of these self denying regula- tons. m the interest Gf good Telatis1is between the two countries. now seems to have been wasted.
 Tt IS not denied that. fundamentallv speaking II hes within the inhPran1 sovereign power Of each stafe 10 limi1 and control immigration to its own domains. but when in rhR eEerciEe af such right Hn evident injustice is daus to a foreign nAtlon In disregard uf its proper self-respeC1. of internarian- al understanding or of ordinary rules of cemity, the question necessarily a-- sumes an aEPect which illEtifles diplomatic discussion and adiustn,eu1
 Accordingly, the Japanese govern ment consider it their duty 10 msin- tain and to p2Ace on record thri7 solemn protest against the discrin, inatOry clause in section F 0Ct uf the immigration act of 1a24 and 10 request the American government to r8kR all possible and suitRble measures for thP removal of such discrimination.
 7I am instructed further TO express the confidence that this communication will he received by the American gnr- ernment in the same spirit of friend Illness and candor in which II is maf7a
 Accept Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration tSirunf9
 M HANIHARA