Speech #640264438

You nmy say that that is a very great task. So it is. but as a general thing our consular officers are not seriously burdened with work. and if it were necessary for a foreigner to go to the American consul nearest his place of residence and before he could sail convince that officer that he was a man of character. that lie had been a good citizen in the town or village or county from which he came. and that lie was coming to this country because of the superior opportunities and adVitages which it offered him and his children. I thik that that method of restricting immigration would be far preferable to this. That it is not impracticable and that this couldbe done we have only to consider that something similar must be done before Japanese subjects may come to the United States under the "gentlemens agreement." They must go to their officials alnd convince them that they are asking nothing but what they are entitled to. and when they get their Governments approval they may come. not before I am going to repeat what I said in the beginning. and then I am going to yield the floor to others. that this legislation. if passed. will. in my opinion. repeal the treaty between Japan and the United States. it will. if passed. nullify the "gentlemens agreement." If it does. perhaps that agreement can be renewed after this legislation is passed. I have no doubt whatevei that after this legislation is passed and becomes a law the President of the United States could forthwith enter into a treaty with Japan by which this very privilege which is now contained in the "gentlemens agreement" would become the operating principle of the two Governments in the matter of immigration.