Speech #660272513

Briefly stated. the purpose of that agreement is to prevent Japanese laborers from coming from our insular possessions to the mainland of the United States. and to limit materially the total number of Japanese laborers who might enter our ports. The Japanese Government. on its part. agreed to give no passports to Japanese laborers. except the wives. parents. or children of those already here. to come to the mainland of the United States. As no Japanese of any class can leave his country without an official passport from his Government. it was hoped this agreement would solve the immigration problem. I can say frankly that at the time that agreement was negotiated it was believed that it would help finally to settle the differences between the two countries on the subject of immigration of Japanese laborers. Unfortunately the Ameriicans were not familiar with the social and religious customs of Japan or they probably would have made additional provisions in that agreement. The Japanese people are largely members of the Shinto faith.