Evening star., 1924-05-18


Japanese ambassador has insisted-as
containing a threat, and by an over
whelming vote the Senate adopted
the Japanese exclusion clause, max
ing it effective Immediately. whereas
the House bill made it effective as Of
July l, 1924.
1t is no secret, too. that the admin
istration has been desirous of post
poning the application of the Japan
ese exclusion clause until such time
as negotiations could be effected with
the Japanese with regard to the ex-
clusion question which would soften
the blow to Japanese pride. The con-
ferees on the bill. with this in mind.
set March l. 1925. as the date for
Japanese exclusion to become effec-
tive, but the House would not agree
| back to July 1, 1924. What the final
result will be is still to be deter
mined.
Japan Has Guarded People.
Many years ago, when Japan was
formulating it's foreign policy, Her
bert Spencer was asked by a Japan
ese statesman whether japan should
admit Europeans and attempt assimi-
lation. Spencer replied with an en-
phatic no." and declared that the
only forms of intercourse which you
may with advantage permit are those
that are indispensable for the ex-
change of commodities" Spencer's
fear was that Japan, if it threw its
doors wide, might suffer the same
fate as India. He strongly opposed.
Japanese, declaring that it was a
question of biology, and that the re-
suit of an attempt to intermingle the
white and yellow races would in
evitably be bad.
An examination Of the laws Of
Japan shows that the statesmen of
that nation have not hesitated to act
to protect their people from nigra-
tions Of foreigners. which might have
had disastrous economic results.
There have been erected. for example,
against the Chinese and Koreans,
high walls. Such immigration into
Japan is not permitted-largely for
the same reasons that the United
States has excluded cheap Chinese
labor, and has sought to limit Japan
ese labor immigration-becau the
native labor cannot compete sue
labor.
Naturalization Restrictions.
While the Japanese law Of 1899. as
amended by the law Of 1916, does per-
nit the naturalization Of aliens in
Japan, the restrictions thrown about
this right are many. For example,
the permission of the minister of the
interior must be first obtained, and
before that permission may be grant
ed a number of conditions must be
satisfied, including continuous resi-
dence in Japan for five years, good
character, ability to earn an inde-
pendent livelihood.
The Japanese code has been trans
shows many restrictions against for
eigners. Foreigners cannot own land
In Japan as individuals, although,
when incorporated, or as a partner
ship, foreigners my own such land
Nor can foreigners engage in agri-
culture in Japan, nor in mining-as
individuals; they cannot become
shareholders in japanese national
banks; they cannot become owners of
ships flying the Japanese flag; they
cannot hold any public office; they
cannot become shareholders, members
or brokers in the various Japanese
exchanges; they do not enjoy the
franchise.
Labor Immigration Forbidden.
Foreign labor immigration into ia
pan is forbidden by imperial ordi-
nance dated July %, 1899. Foreign
life insurance companies cannot write
insurance in Japan unless a consider
able per cent of the money collected
for the insurance is left in Japan.
The Japanese have been careful of
Japanese shipping interests, too. AS
has been said, no foreigner may own
a ship flying the Japanese flag. Fur
thermore, the laws of Japan allow
rebates to be given by Japanese
steamship companies on all goods i'm
ported or exported by Japanese mer-
chants.
The medical profession is protected
in Japan, too. Foreign doctors are
not allowed to engage in the prac-
tice of their profession except in mis-
sionary hospitals unless they pass a
written and oral examination in the
Japanese language before a board Of
Japanese doctors. This does not ap-
ply, however, to foreign dentists.
Trade Treaty Of 1911.
Subsequent to the gentlemen's
agreement-referred to sometimes as
the Root-Takahira agreements
treaty Of navigation and commerce
was entered into between the United
States and Japan in 1911. This treaty
declared the right of the citizens of
the two nations to enter, travel and
reside within the territories of each
other for the purposes of carrying on
trade. A footnote to this treaty,
signed by the Japanese ambassador.
declared that the japanese govern
ment would continue to maintain the
effectiveness Of the gentlemen's agree
ment for the regulation Of the emigra-
ton Of japanese laborers to the United
States
The treaty OF 1911 ran for a speci-
fed period of twelve years, which
ended last July. The treaty provides
for a continuation Of the pact, how
>uar unless ono Of the CONTRACTING