I should like to make a statement in reference to this matter. As we all know. several years ago the question of the admission of certain aliens became very acute on the Pacific coast. The then President of the United States took this matter up and solved the problem. temporarily at least. by entering Into what is now known as a "gentlemens agreement." The country from which came these aliens. who were objected to by the people of the western coast. entered into a verbal agreement that they would not permit these immigrants to come any more.. That agreement is known as the passport agreement or understanding. as it appears in the meager accounts of this matter. and which has been pendig here. It was to the effect that under the "favorednation" clause we would allow them to remain In the text of the treaty as it is. with the proviso in a law which was subsequently entered into. that any infringement of this law or the breaking of the agreement on the part of the foreign country should immediately invest the President with the power to forbid any immigration whatever from that country. When we came to frame the law objection was made that the agreement should be construed as being in the same category as other laws. In that it was for that very purpose that the foreign country entered into that agreement with us. without further protest of a different nature. that It should be kept from the appearance of a law putting them in the category of other nations with whom they did not care to be classed.
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immigration immigrants