Evening star., 1924-04-20
THREAT D|SAVOWED
IN NEW HAN|HARA
LETTER TO HUGHES
Secretary of State Sure
Words Grave Consequences
Not of Hostile Intent.
EFFECT ON ALIEN BILL
IS NOT YET APPARENT
Conferees Are Expected to Begin
Work at 0nce-Lodge Sees
Coolidge.

10 convey a vSlled threat" in the
use of the phrase grave conse-
Quences" in his recent communica
tion to Secretary Hughes. protesting
against the Japanese exclusion fea-
fure of the immigration bill is made
by Ambassador Hanihara in a second
1etter to the Secretary, made public
yesterday, and characterized by Mr.
Hughes as a frank and friendly
explanation.
The ambassadors letter and a re-
ply by the Secretary were made
public by the State Department, Mr.
Hughes letter saying that in the
light of the context of the original
letter and prevailing friendship and
understanding between the two
countries he had no doubt that
these words (grave consequences
were to be taken in the same sense
you have stated, and was quite sure
that it was far from your thought 10
express or implay any threat"
Embassy Desired to ExpInin.
The correspondence was made
public after Secretary Hughes had
given much of his time for the past
two days to a conside ration of the
International issue involved. He
conferred again yesterday with
President Coolidge and before re-
ceipt of the ambassadors second let
ter had been advised of the desire of
officials of the embassy to have an
explanation of the language of the
protest placed before the public.
What effect the explanation may
have on the pending exclusion legis-
lation in Congress was not apparent
last night Senator Lodge. chairman
of the Senate foreign relations COM
mittee. who in Senate debates char
acterized the phrase grave conse-
quences" as a ''veiled threat in re-
cent days has conferred with Presi-
dent Coolidge on the question, but
leaders in Congress desired opportu-
nifty to study the language of the
latest letter before appraising the sit
uation.
Bill in Conference.
Steps to send the immigration bill
TO conference were taken at the Cap
itol yesterday, and the conferees are
expected to begin work without de-
lay.
1t is understood that the ambassa-
dor made his explanation with the
approval of the Toxic foreign office.
which had given it's explicit indorse-
ment to the wording of the letter.
Both communications, however. were
made public without comment.
The letter written by Secretary
Hughes to the ambassador said:
II am gratified to receive your let
ter of the 18th instant with your
frank and friendly explanation of
the intent of your recent note in
relation to the pending immigration
bill. 1t gives me pleasure to be able
to assure you that reading the words
grave consequences in the light of
their context, and knowing the
spirit of friendship and understand
ing you have always manifested in
our long association, 1 had no doubt
that these words were to be taken
in the sense you have stated, and /
was quite sure that it was far from
your thought to express or imply
any threat. 1 am happy to add that
have deeply appreciated yer con-
stant desire to promote u most
cordial relations between 4 peoples
of the two countries.
with high esteem, am, my dear
Mr.. Hanihara,
Very sincerely yours,
CHARLES +. HUGHES"
D. Letter of Ambassador.
Ambassador Hanihara's letter un-
der date of April II, said:
'sMy Dear Mr.. Secretary:
I'm reading the Congressional Rec
ord of April IA, 1924, 1 find that the
letter / addressed to you on April 10,
a copy of which you sent to the
chairman of the Senate committee on
immigration, was made a subject Of
discussion in the Senate. In the Rec
ord it is reported that some of the
Senators expressed the opinion,
which was apparently accepted by
many other members of that body,
that my letter contained "a veiled
threat AS it appears from the Rec
ord that it is the phrase grave con-
sequences, WHICH uoSo III lHS COH-
GLIDING part of my letter, that some
of the Senators construed as a veiled
threat I may be permitted to quote
here full text of the sentence which
contained the words in question.
Relying upon the confidence you
have been good enough to show me
At all times, have stated, or rather
repeated, all this to you very can
didly and in a most friendly spirit,
for l realize, as I believe you do, the
grave consequences which the enact
ment of the measure retaining that
particular provision would inevitably
bring upon the otherwise happy and
mutually advantageous relations be-
tween our two countries.
Frankly. l must say / am unable TO
understand how the two words read In
their context. could be construed as
meaning anything like threat. i simply
tried to emphasize the most unfortunate
and deplorable effect upon cur tradi-
fional friendship which might result
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