The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-09
STAYING JAPANESE EXCLUSION

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 STAYING JAPANESE EXCLUSION
 Although public sentiment throughout the United States approves the principle in ac- cordance with which the further settlement of Japanese in this country is prohibited yet there is some sincere criticism of the manner in which this has been brought about. There is no doubt that the action of congress was precipitated by the activity of the Japanese government in seeking to halt the exclusion enactment. But for the very reason that there was heat-Sn the consideration of this question, it is held by many that it should have been deferred until cooler sentiment pre- vailed. If that view is correct, then no ma terial harm is done, for the measure is not yet law, being still in conference. and there is indication that the inauguration of the act will be postponed until the state depart, ment has time to negotiate with the Japanese government regarding the "gentleman's agree ment," which the pending statute would ab- rogate.
 There are two main points on which the pending act is attacked by American critics. The first is that, by ignoring the diplomatic agreement between our state department and the Japanese government, congress has had insufficient consideration for Japanese good faith, and has invaded the executive field without due regard for diplomatic courtesy. The Japanese are represented as being sen sitive in regard to their status in other coun- tries, and it is of record that they sought at the Versailles conference and in the, League of Nations to have their racial equality spe- officially recognized. To be sure, that is q. question which the Japanese themselves have emphasized, and which it would have been better not to stress, for Japan has been &C., corded full national equality whereas the question of racial equality is hardly fit one for diplomatic debate. It might also be answered that our exclusion act is not based on any assumption that the Japanese are in- ferior, but that their inclusion into our cit izenship would imply a racial admixture such as we do not ogre, for national and archaeological reasons, to contemplate. Per haps they would be equally unwilling to wit ness large influx of Americans into their own country. aS
 The other basis of criticism is that there was no need for thus singling out Japan for special exclusion legislation when there is contemplated similar exclusion, couched in less brusque terms, against other races and nationalities. It is held with many, and per haps not without good reason, that the pur- pose with respect to the Japanese could have been accomplished without wounding the Jap anese sensibilities or bluntins their septi- ments of especial friendship for the American people, Undoubtedly, if that can be ar- ranged, we shall have nothing to lose and a, great deal to gain. For that reason, con gress is not only justified, but in duty. bound, to come to some understanding with our own state department, in accordance with which the national policy shall be sustained without doing any violence to legitimate diplomatic passages between our state department and the Japanese government. While congress has complete right and authority to pass whatever laws it sees fit and for the good of the country, yet it must be taken into consideration that the state department must carry on, whether congress is in session or not in session. It is eminently important, therefore, that congress do nothing to jeopar dize or make more difficult our diplomatic in- tercourse. @e- .
 As long as the principle of exclusion of those nationalities that we do not desire further to incorporate into our melting pot is safeguarded, certainly the outward form as- sumed in the application of this principle is not of paramount concern. It will be far better for our congress to envision the entire subject of immigration, provide the necessary restrictions, ,Sregard the diplomatic courtesies, and achieve the result aimed at with the least sacrifice of international friendships. It is true that the Japanese have no substantial basis on which to object to our regulating immigration in any manner we see fit. That is a subject entirely within our province. But it is infinitely more polite to hand a man his hat than to throw it at him.