The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1952-05-07

| WASHINGTON, ID. O.. May
(JACL ADC)-Congressman Fran
els E. Walter( D, Pa, the author O
the Walter omnibus bill, providing
for the removal o. racial discrimina-
tions in our immigration and natu-
radiation laws. which was recent!
passed by the House, last Wednes.
day read into the Congressional Re.
cord a letter by Mike Masaoka tina
appeared in the Sunday, April 81
edition of the New York times. tax
ing issue with a New York Times
editorial on the omnibus bill.
Masaoka, national JACL ADO le-
gislative director in his column
long letter refuted the contention OF
the New York Times editorial that
the Walter and McCarran bills only
technically remove racial discri-
limitations in our immigration and
naturalization laws.
Addressing himself specifically tc
this point of racial discrimination
Masaoka asserted, From absolute
exclusion to the Asia Pacific TRAN
gle formula is long step forward.
Under the formula, all Asian ma
tions will be granted immigration
privileges. in accordance with the
national origins system, equal to
those enjoyed by the European
countries"
Certainly" Masaoka emphasized,
1.-The improvement is not one of
mere technicality. 1t represents the
repeal of the Oriental Exclusion
Acts whose passage in 1924 has
been cited by our former ambassa-
dor to Japan, the Honorable Joseph
G. Grew, as the most important
factor leading to the rise of the an
ti-American clique in Japan"
Masaoka contended that the re-
moval of this major barrier to in
ternational understanding, a barrier
which brought into being one world
war, and, if ignored, could conceiv-
ably be the cause of another, is
noteworthy accomplishment.
Calling attention also to the ELI
mination of the race bar from the
naturalization statutes, Masaoka
urged the merits of this provision.
The advanced age of these resident
Asians argues for prompt action"
stated Masaoka, "if justice loo long
delayed is not to be justice denied :"
Masaoka then went on to answer
the editorials charges with respect
to the exclusion and deportation
proceedings as provided in the Wal
ter and McCarran bills. The over
all policy enunciated here" said
Masaoka, lis only in keeping with
intelligent self-interest."
After indicating the reasons mo-
tivating the drafting of the deport-
alton and exclusion proceedings,
Masaoka pointed to the "redemp-
ton" provision permitting former
who have clearly repu-
dated their past political beliefs, to
enter this country, Certainly, this
redemptive aspect" said Masaoka,
lis a positive contribution toward a
more humane immigration proce-
dure."
In closing his letter Masaoka as
serted, Legislative reforms, under
democratic processes, are evolution
airy in nature To scrap improve
ments on the grounds of their not
being ideal would Illustrate the a
chievement of any gains whatso-
ever"
The letter which appeared under
the heading "McCarran Bill Up
Held an Advance
Over Present immigration Policy
(the writer of the following letter
is national legislative director of
the Anti-Discrimination Committee
of the japanese American Citizens
League. is quoted in full:
To the Editor of New York Times:
The NEW YORK TIMES editorial
of March 9th, captioned New Bar
riers for Old, contends that the
Walter McCarran bills. which codi-
fly and revise all immigration and
naturalization laws are utterly in
adequate as reform measures. Spe-
the editorial asserts that
present determinations based on
race and sex are eliminated only
technically" by the Walter and
McCarran bills.
The reference in this instance is
to the "Asia-Pacific Triangle" for
mula of charging persons of Asian
ancestry born outside the Orient to
the quota of their ancestral land in
stead of the country of their birth.
1t is true that the formula conceived
in l943 when immigration rights
were extended to the Chinese and
invoked again in 1916 for the East
Indians and Filipinos, establishes
certain limitations.
Contrast this, however, to the