Speech #680069987

If you will dwell on what is held to be an Immigrant." 1 think it will help you. I have already said that under the trade treaties relating to commerce those who come over as traders are not "immigrants." The gentlemens agreement relates to laborers. and hence to immigrants. The Secretary of State objected. so far as the House bill is concerned. first. upon the ground that it violated the treaty. because It only admitted aliens here temporarily. and therefore was not broad enough to cover traders. and. secondly. that it violates the gentlemens agreement. Thereupon the House in their amended bill. among the excepted classes. excepted those coming in under present treaties. Now. mind you. the treaty class are not strictly immigrants. and therefore a mere phrase excepting those coming in under a treaty would cover the treaty with Japan. but would not cover the gentlemens agreement. The gentlemens agreement is an absolute immigration agreement relating to labor. Therefore. from the position taken by the Secretary of State In his correspondence with the chairman of tile Ilouse committee and myself. it is clear to my mind that the use of the word "citizen " in the Johnson bill would be an abrogation or a repeal of the gentlemens agreement. But why should we go into that at this time. because this whole subject is bound to be discussed later on-