Speech #660272513

The action of the school board gave rise to acrimonious newspaper utterances and bitter attacks against Californians in the Empire across the Pacific. The matter was eventually straightened out. however. and nothing further has had to be done in regard to that subject. But the immigration question had become a source of embarrassment to the national administration. It might be interesting at this time to state that in 1894. when Japan was negotiating for a new treaty with the United States Government. looking to the abrogation of the then existing treaty. with its provisions on extraterritoriality. she coupled with that request an entirely new proposition about unrestricted settlement in the United States of Japanese immigrants. Secretary of State Gresham constantly maintained that our Government had decided views on Asiatic immigration and sustained our position in that respect continuously during the negotiation. Finally the Japanese Government yielded entirely to tile views of Secretary Gresham. thus fully recognizing the right of our country to differentiate between the classes of immigrants that might be admitted to our shores. I simply mention these facts to show that Japan in the past had recognized the attitude of our Government in the matter of the exclusion of Japanese laborers. Finally. in 1007.