Speech #680029387

Federal and State. are entitled. There is no Japanese exclusion bill now before Congress. and no such measure which mentions the Japanese. Minister Matsui probably refers to that provision In the general immigration bill which would exclude hereafter. as Immigrants or permanent residents. all alieng ineligible to citizenship. Far from singling out the Japanese. this provision applies to all the yellow and brown races. comprising about half the population of the globe. and Includes Hindus. Malays. Chinese. Japanese. and Filipinosof which the Japanese constitute only a small fraction. The provision is in strict accord with the Federal law forbidding naturalization of certain aliens. passed In 1700. which law has not since been changed in this particular. nor was complaint in regard to this law or its effect on the Japanese people ever made by Japan at any time until within the past few decades. since she started her policy of colonization In the United States. The provision Is certainly a fundamental step in the restriction of unassimilable immigration now demanded by the Nation. It has received unanimous indorsement In national conventions of the American Legion. the American Federation of Labor. and the Grange. Minister Matsuis appeal. while couched In courteous language. Is an extraordinary attempt on the part of a foreign nation to influence the electorate of this country against legislation on a purely domestic questionimmigrationbeca use such legislation does not accord with the interests or desires of that nation and her nationals. This appeal was preceded by an unsuccessful attempt to force the House Immigration Committee at Washington to eliminate the provision In question from the immigration bill. According to widely published press reports. the attempt was made at the instance of our Department of State because of strong protests from Japan and at the instance of our Department of Commerce because of complaint from certain American commercial interests which were threatened by Japan with cancellation of rehabilitation contracts aggregating $200.000.000 if this provision were enacted into law. We protest against such interference by Japan. and against such interference by any other nation should any other nation. encouraged by Japan. be so presumptuous. Immigration is a purely domestic problem. which it is the privilege and duty of a government to determine uninfluenced by urge or protest from other nations. The solution reached should be determined solely by the effect It may have upon American citizenship. regardless of effect upon other nations or other peoples and uninfluenced by considerations of trade or threat of war. Such a question can not safely be left to the determination of those who would barter the vital principle involved for a few million dollars in trade. Under the present arrangement. and regardless of this countrys views or desires. any Japanese who comes to our shores bearing Japans passportprovided he be not afflicted with contagious diseasemust be accepted as Immigrant or permanent resident. No -other nation permits immigration under such conditions. We should regulate our immigration. as do all other nations. in accordance with our) own interests. by our own laws. enforced through our own departments by our own officials. Since Japan insists that this country should not enact legislation which will bar her nationals. even Indirectly. as immigrants. it Is proper to point out that Japan excluiles as immigrants to her country the Chinese and Koreans. thereby discriminating against her own color. Her claim. doubtless true. is that such policy is demanded by the Interests of the Japanese people. We are friendly with Japan and wish to remain friendly. but. as President Roosevelt pointed out. that friendship can not continue if communities of unassimilable Japanese established In this country promote trouble through economic competition and racial friction.