Evening star., 1924-04-11
Note to Hughes Reaffirms
GentIemen's Agreement,
Stating Exact Terms.
SENATORS ARE STIRRED
BY BRISTLING PROTEST
Hanihara Declares His Country
Has Sought in Good Faith
to Live Up to Pact.


department a bristling protest against
proposals in Congress to apply fur
ther drastic restrictions to Japanese
immigration to the United States.
In note reafIirming and reducing
TO concrete terms for the first time
the famous "gentlemen's agreement"
the Japanese ambassador advised this
government that the exclusion pro-
posals now pending appeared to in
NolVe the good faith" of the govern
ment at Toxic
Phrases of unusual force in diplomacy
We're contained in the note. Immediately
forwarded by Secretary Hughes to the
senate just as Il was approaching the
end OF its debate on the immigration
bill
The protest was aimed particu'arIy at
me proposal to exclude all aliens who
never can become American citizens, a
thrust which the ambassador said was
manifeStly aimed at Japan
he declared enactment Of such n
raw would seriously offend the just
prlde OF the japanese nation and
that the grave consequences" should
be considered carefully before action
was taken.
-. a copy Of the note. reaching the
Senate just as it was conyening.
caused decided stir among senators
IL was passed around and talked over
IN many whispered consultations
The effect on the pending legislation
could not be Immediately assessed.
The diplomatic exchange, calcu-
lated to clarity the issue over Jana
nese exclusion which has been raised
in Congress during discussion of the
new immigration legislation, was for
warded by Mr.. Hughes today 10
Chairman Colt of the Senate immi-
grafton committee.
Heretofore the international under
standing between Washington and
Toxic on the subject has been based
on a long succession OF exchanges
and precedents, and the exact terms
OF the agreement" never have been
reduced to precise form.
Agree ON Points.
In reafiirming the principle of the
agreements" the Japanese ambas-
sador's letter to Secretary Hughes
denied charges by Pacific coast sem
ators that the understanding has not
bee nobserved scrupulousIy. 1t was
asserted that Japan was willing TO
continue the arrangement in force.
with full promises of it's observance.
but would look with serious doubt
upon proposals for more drastic
exclusion provision.
Secretary Hughes, in reply. said the
ambassadors statement of the essen
tial points in the "gentlemen's agree
ment" corresponds with his own un-
derstanding of the arrangement.
The ambassador expressed hope that
full consideration would be given to
the grave consequences" which the
proposed exclusion clause in the i'm
hrin
wise happy and beneficial relations"
between the two nations.
The proposed exclusion would not
only seriously offend the pride of
this nation" the letter said but
would involve the question OF good
faith. and, therefore, honor"
Ambassador Hanihara said his gov
ernment would be willing to enter ne
gotiationS looking to modification or
change of the agreement if that
seemed necessary.
Only 148 Excluded Yearly.
"The manifest object of the said
section a. said the ambassa-
doris letter. lis to single out Japan
as nation. stigmatizing them as un-
worthy and undesirable in the eyes
of the American people. And yet the
actual result, if the proposed bill be-
comes law as intended, would be to
exclude only 146 Japanese per year.
"On the other hand. the agreement is,
in fact, accomplishing all that can be
accomplished by the proposed exclusion
laws except for those 146.
II is, indeed. difficult to believe that
II can De the intention of the people of
your great country, who always stand
TOT hlgh principles of justice and fair
play In the intercourse of nations, to re-
sort-fn order to secure the annual ex-
ciusion of 146 Japanese-to a measure
Whlch would not only seriously offend
the just pride of friendly nation that
mas been always earnest and diligent in
It's efforts to preserve the friendship of
your people, but would also seem to in
voive the question of the good faith and
therefore of the honor of their govern
ment, or at least of it's executive branch.
Relying upon the confidence you
have been good enough to show me
at all times, / have stated. or rather
dldty, and in a most friendly spirit,
Tor 1 realize, as l believe you do, the
grave consequences which the en-
actment would bring"
Text of Letter.
The ambassadors letter, more than
LOCO words in length, began as follows:
IN view of certain statements in
tie IepoTl Oh the house COmmlttee on
regarding the so-called
'gentlemen's agreement some of
which appear to be misleading, l may
be allowed to state to you the pur-
pose and substance of that agree
ment as it is understood and per-
formed by my government, which un-
derstanding and practice are, 1 be-
lieve, in accord with those of your
on this subject.
The gentlemen's agreement is an
understanding with the United States
government by which the Japanese
government voluntarily undertook to
adopt and enforce certain administra-
tive measures designed to check the
emigration to. the United States Of
Japanese laborers. 1t is no way in
tended as a restriction on the sover-
eign right Of the United States to
regulate it's immigration. This is
shown. by the fact that the existing
immigration act of 1917, for instance,
is applied to Japanese as to other
aliens.
Seeks to Avoid Trouble.
ut was because of the fact that dis
criminatory immigration legislation
on the part of the United States would
naturally wound the national suscep-
titbilities of the Japanese people
that, after thorough but most friendly
and frank discussions between the
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