I have rarely felt more anxiety about any measure pending before the Congress than about the one pending today. The whole question is involved of our observance of agreements with other countries and of our attitude of friendliness or unfriendliness toward other peoples of the earth. I wish to say at the very outset that I regard the question of immigration. as well as of citizenship. In the United States as more properly and naturally one of legislation for the Congress to determine. but the status of those coming from other countries presents a problem of such delicacy that diplomacy must have to do with the subject of the admission or the exclusion of immigrants. It is also within the treatymaking power to agree upon their admission. I would say. further. that the Japanese Government has said to us. through her ambassador. that they regard the question of immigration as one within the control of our own people as a matter of domestic policy and that they do not wish to send here from their nationals those who will be objectionable to us. In justification of a policy of restriction or exclusion I am compelled to say that if there is any one feature that I have noticed in traveling about in the last 30 years. notwithstanding closer relationships. and notwithstanding the increase of trade. it is the growth of race repulsion. However reluctant I may be to enact legislation offensive to a great many peoples of the earth. we are nevertheless justified in passing such a bill as this.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants