Speech #610262900

Mr. Chairman. the treaty between this Government and Japan. now in force. contains the following provision: It Is. however. understood that the stipulations contained in this and the preceding article do not in any way affect the laws. ordinances. and regulations with regard to trade. the immigration of laborers. police. and public security which are now in force or which may hereafter be enacted in either of the two countries. The new treaty Just submitted to the Senate. if we may believe the reports in the public press. contains no provision of this character. In negotiating the new treaty. the representatives of the two countries must have had this provision. as well as all other provisions of the old treaty. in mind. and they must have intentionally omitted from the new treaty all mention of the " Immigration of laborers." The fear of our people is that by this omission. under these circumstances. our Government will be held to haye yielded to Japan our right to prevent the coming to our shores of her laborers or her coolie classes. XLVI203 It may be that in the near future--while the proposed treaty may be in forceit will become absolutely necessary to have legislation to protect our people from the hordes of oriental laborers who. if not prevented. will flock to the United States. Under these circumstances. if such legislation should be passed or seriously attempted. the Japanese would certainly charge us. and justly charge us. with bad faith and a breach of her treaty rights.