Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-01
j. s. EMBASSY FLAG
CUT DOWN IN TOXIC
AS BAN DATE OPENS
Japanese Police Unable to
Locate Man Who SIashed
Ropes in Compound.
By the Associated Press

o! tne Aseoclateo FfeSs.
TOXIC, July 1.-The American flag
in the United States embassy COM
pound was cut down today, but
though details have been brought to
light by police inquiry, the identity
of the Japanese who slashed the hal
yards and thus unceremoniously re-
moved the ensign had not been un-
covered several hours after the affair.
The nationwide demonstration
against the American exclusion act,
which goes into effect today, opened
with mass prayer meetings at all the
national Shinto shrines throughout
the country. Crowds petitioned the
ancient deities to aid the people in
this troublesome time when the jap
anese race is "insulted" by exclusion
from America. Tokios principal
meeting was at the Meiti shrine. 1t
was attended by thousands of reserv-
lists and others. Scores OF other anti
American meetings were being held
IN. Toxic alone today.
Most of the vernacular newspapers
print American cartoons.
Protest by Diet.
The newspapers make the demon
stration the big story of the day, de-
spite the opening of the Diet, in
which resolutions were passed oppos-
ing the ban on Japanese. The ed
ltorial comment, however, is moder-
ate
Prominent men interviewed, while
expressing indignation against Amer
lea, urge the people to seek strength
internal rof
The officers inquiry into the far-
cutting incident disclosed that about
I2:45 pm. Japanese stole into the
the compound, climbed the fiagpole
and cut the flag from the ropes with
which it is hoisted. escaping before.
the police arrived. The cutter seized
an opportunity to enter the compound
when there were no Americans in that
part Of the incloSure, which formerly
surrounded the embassy buildings de-
stroyed by the earthquake and fire of
last September.
Reported to Shidehara.
Until recently body of marines
was encamped within the compound
but now only three of the party are
left. The embassy officers are be-
ing housed in the Imperial hotel pend
ing erection of new building. This
is half mile away from the COM
pound. None Of the three men re-
naming in the compound saw the
cutting. However, persons who did
Immediately reported the affair to
Charge dAffaires Caffery, who hur-
riedly called on Foreign Minister
Shidehara. The police promptly
placed a guard around the compound
and took up the work of fnvestiga-
tion. The fiagpole stands on diplo-
matte property, it was pointed out,
which made 1t necessary for the
cutter to invade what is really Amer
ican soil in order to carry out his
project.
Both houses of the Japanese Diet,
at their first sittings of the current
session today and almost as their first
business, passed resolutions strongly
opposing the new United states I'M
migration law.
In his address Viscount Kato said:
IAN examination OF world conditions
reveals 1nat the powers are develop
inR national strength with a view to
extending their influence abroad. and
Japan needs a general awakening OF
the popular will.
Expressing regret at the passage OF
the American exclusion act. he said
the government would do it's utmost
to seek new solution. He prom
ised electoral reform, including uni
yersal manhood suffrage, measures
against corruption. state economy,
national thrift and, the ,discontiLuance
OF former Premier Kiyoura's loan
policy for the present fiscal year.
Patriotic societies last evening
plararded virtually every telephone
7ContIauS4 O FaEe & Column %