Speech #660238282

And what form did their suggestion take. did it provide for Anericanizing condition.s on the plantations? No. Instead they asked that they be allowed to bring in a flood of Chinese coolies. so that they could play the Chinese against. the Japanese. On page 40 of their hearings before the Senate Committee on Immigration they ask for only "a limited number of Chinese to come to Hawaii. not to live permanently but for a period of five or seven years ". but in the bill introduced by the Delegate from that Territory during the last Congress they -are more specific. That bill reads as follows: Whereas since the voluntary annexation by the United States of the Hawaiian Islands more than $30.000.000 has been expended for Army. Navy. and harbor improvements to the end that the strategic key to the Pacific Ocean be made a safe base of military operation. and Whereas there are now garrisoned in the Territory of Hawaii upward of 10.000 men in the Army. Navy. and Marine Corps branches of the military service. and Whereas since the discontinuance of Chinese Immigration the labor supply of the Territory has diminished to such an extent that large areas of lands. both public and private. suitable for the growing of rice. garden truck. and other edibles are now lying fallow. idle. and unimproved . and Whereas the question of how to provision the Territory In the event of hostile demonstration against it has been carefully considered by the different commanders of the United States Army of the Department of Hawail. efforts have been made to reestablish the planting of rice and other products on unemployed lands. but without success. because of the utter lack of suitable or available labor. and Whereas there is no citizen or European labor available to relieve an acute and actual necessity. and without the Improvement and cultivation of unemployed lands the scant food sopply of the Territory of Hawaii. in the absence o. a strong Pacific Ocean fleet. makes Its 240.000 Inhabitants early and easy prey to a blockading hostile fleet. and Whereas the Chinese are the niost skilled rice and gardentruck agriculturists now procurable. and Whereas the condition obtaining in the Territory of climate. diversity of race. lack of skilled employment. complete Isolation from the mainland. and noncompetition with either skilled or unskilled labor of the mainland. eliminate from serious consideration the many obJections urged against general Chinese immigration. and Whereas the admission. of a limited number of Chinese laborers to the Territory of Hawaii upon such terms and conditions and under such special rules and restrictions as the Department of Labor might deem advisable would enable the Territory of Hawaii to plant and cultivate its unemployed lands in rice. garden truck. and other products. and thereby solve the now perilous food situation : Therefore be It Resolved. That the Congress of the United States by apt legislation provide for the admission into the Territory of Hawaii from the Republic of China (without right to proceed to any other part of the United States). under such terms and conditions amid subject to such rules and restrictions as it deems advisable. 30.000 Chinese laborers. But Hawaii is not the only oriental dependency over which the American flag flies that is experiencing these troubles.