Speech #780015676

The second blow to Japan came from this Congress in 1924. America was having labor troubles on the Pacific coast. Oriental immigrants had lower wage levels. and they were able to undercut our wage and living standards. There was a real problem. Nobody denies that. If we had given as the reason for our excluding orientals the economic reason. which in most cases was the real reason. there would not have been a murmur of protest from any oriental people. They know we are a sovereign country and have a perfect right to regulate our own immigration. But we do not have a right to insult friendly peoples because of their race or color. at least not if we expect to avoid war with them. Unfortunately. the basis on which we excluded them was one of race. that nonCaucasians are ineligible for American citizenship.