Evening star., 1924-04-15
Resents Tokio's Stand.
U. S. Within Rights in Exclusion
Policy. Says Writer.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
As an American l keenly resent the
letter of the japanese government
protesting the immigration bill now
pending before Congress, which ap-
peared in a recent issue Of The Star
Brisuing as it does with dictation.
arrogance and threats it is amazing.
to say the least, and / doubt if such
a communication was ever before ad-
dressed by one friendly sovereign
power to another in time Of peace, or
except as a preliminary to a declara-
| ton of war or the commencement of
hostiIities.
Concerning as it does a purely do
| mestic policy of the United States,
upon which it assumes to dictate to
us with an accompanying threat of
grave and serious consequences
should we dare disregard her protest.
| think the Secretary of State would
| have been amply justified in refusing
| to receive it
Our relations with Japan for several
years past in regard to matters that
| concern solely our domestic affairs,
| and her attitude in respect thereto.
| raise seriously the question whether
| or not we are, in her estimation, a
| sovereign nation, in possession of all
the attributes that are Of the very es-
| Sence of national sovereignty.
The note in question harps upon
our friendly relations, and the just
| pride and susceptibilities of the Japa-
| neSe people, as if we were without
| such traits, speaks of the honor of
| follows with this veiled threat:
| II realize, as ! believe you do, the
| grave consequences which the enact
ment of the measure retaining that
particular provision would inevitably
| Drlng upon the otherwise happy and
mutually advantageous relations be-
| tween our two countries"
| / desire my country to live in peace
and amity with all nations. but l am
| frank to say that, if we are to pur-
chase the friendship of Japan, or any
other country, at the sacrifice of our
| self-respect, and the surrender of one
iota OF our sovereign rights, l am
perfectly willing to forego such
| friendship, good will and commercial
| intercourse with any such nation.
| The Japanese know as we'll as we
| do, the statement in the note to the
contrary Notwithstanding, that this
bill is not aimed solely at them. and
| that 1t is not intended as any reflec-
| ton upon them as a people 1t is de-
signed to preserve to US our own neri-
| tage and to prevent ourselves from
| being inundated by alien peoples
whom we cannot assimilate politically
| DOllltc.
Our people have always had kindly
| feelings for the Japanese. been glad
| or their prosperity, and marveled {
| their unprecedented development and
| progress within the last siNty-ouo
| years. 1t is not a question of their
| superiority or inferiority to US, but
| solely one of racial, religious politi-
cal and social differences that make
1t impossible for us to meet upon any
| ground of common understanding, or
| occupy the same territory upon terms
| of political, social and economic
| equality; and what is said here OF
! them applies equally to all Asiatics,
| and other peoples of kindred racial
characteristics in whatever part of
| the world they may be found.
| 1t is well known as a biological
fact that should we permit any very
considerable immigration OF orientals
INTO our country they would pre-
empt 1t in comparatively few
| hold our own against the orientals
standards of living than good and ba,
money can circulate upon a parity
within the same Jurisdiction.
| The Japanese talk of honor, pride
and susceptibilities (and l do no,
| mean they are without these quail
tles) is all camouf1age in regard to
| this question of immigration. The
| trouble with japan is that she is
! overpopulated, and the question of
| population and food supply is be-
| coming more and more serious with
| the japanese every year. immigration
| Is indispensable to her future well
fare, progress and development. Their.
| is abundant room for her to expand
on the Asiatic mainland, but no, the
| Japanese are not pioneers, and every
| pioneering effort they have ever made
| has been an ignominious failure. What
| she wants is to enter upon and enjoy
| the fruits of the labors of others. She
| sees our Pacific coast a fair and in
viting land for her surplus peoples,
1 where the hardships, tolls, sacrifices
and priyations, the inevitable incl