Speaker and gentlemen of tile House. in my judgment the proposition before the House is plain and not at all complicated. The Cofigress has decided that we will have Japanese exclusion. but our relations with Japan have not been the same as they have been with other countries. For instance. we objected to Japanese immigration when we had an open door for Italy. so we had. it seems. an arrangement LXV520 which would preclude Japanese from coming to this country. That has been called the "gentlemens agreement." by which we have had a very limited Japanese immigration into the country. The bill as introduced would not have taken effect for several months. but it has taken so long for its consideration that if we had July 1 as the date when it becomes effective that will abrogate the gentlemens agreement rather abruptly. The Secretary of State and the Executive. having to deal with a foreign power. have said they thought it would be fair to defer the taking effect o a law supplanting the gentlemens agreement until March 1. 1925. that we treat Japan in i fair way. and call upon them for a meeting. not to make a treaty but to abrogate the agreement. There is nothing complicated in that proposition. Three classes are opposing the adoption of this conference report. First. and the most enthusiastic. the gentlemen who are against any immigration law. second. some Members from the west coast who are prejudiced whenever the word "Japan" is mentioned. and. third. those illadvised people who think they can get something on Calvin Coolidge by turning down this report. That is the proposition. You can laugh all you want to. but that is true. and you are trying to drag this into politics to that extent.
Identified stereotypes
Members from the west coast are prejudiced whenever the word "Japan" is mentioned.