Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1914 — RELATIONS OF U. S. AND JAPAN GRAVE [ARTICLE]

RELATIONS OF U. S. AND JAPAN GRAVE

(Bryan Stops Action in House on Exclusion Bill. VIGOROUS PROTESTS MADE ... . ‘;—.— Secretary of State Offers No Explanation for His Act, But Situation Is Declared to Be Very Delicate. Washington, Jan. 30. —The extreme delicacy of the situation existing between this country and Japan was jrtriklngly illustrated when a telephone message from Secretary of State Bryan to the house immigration committee abruptly stopped further consideration of the Raker exclusion bill. In spite of vigorous protests of Representatives Raker and Hayes of California, the committee adjourned. Action was indefinitely postponed. Chairman Burnett stated that the committee would meet on Thursday, but western members, anxious for legislation to exclude Japanese and Hindu laborers, were skeptical as to their chance of getting hearings. Message Was Ultimatum. The state department message was in the nature of an ultimatum, it was reported. Secretary Bryan informed Chairman Burnett that the department considered it imperative that the legislation Which might irritate friendly nations In the east be dropped for this year. Both Representative Raker and Representative Hayes insisted there could be no good reasoj for failure to consider legislation demanded by the people of the Pacific coast and said their constituents wanted a definite understanding on the exclusion policy. Later it became known that Secretary Bryan’s action came as the result of a conference be held earlier in the ■day with Viscount Chlnda, the Japanese ambassador, who called at the state department to confer with the secretary concerning the Japanese situation. It became known that they took up ail phases of the question and agreed to discuss it at length at a future date, as yet undecided. ’■ Bryan Refuses to Comment Secretary Bryan declined to make any comment on his reasons for telephoning the house committee. Americans who aid or encourage the coming to this country of any person believing or teaching the unlawful destruction of property, such as the militant suffragettes of England, will be guilty of misdemeanor under an amendment to the Burnett immigration bill ordered by the committee. An amendment already written into the 11 prohibiting the entrance into ■ til:--' country of persons who preach -Unlawful d; structio: said Chairman Burui. it of the committee, “applies to + i-uffriigettes, anarchists, ipems^?,rs Of ] optical societies or i AV. \V„ if they aOvmate the de.• :>n of -property unlawfully. Too : > amendment simply hold- responsible the people who bring these lawbreakers Another amendment adopted extends from three to live years the period during which immigrants are subject to deportation for violation of the penal statutes. Philippines Secure From Seizure. Declaring that the Philippines are secure from seizure by Japan or any other power, and that they could hold out from three to six months without aid from across the 'Pacific, Representative Shirley of b.cntucky, opening the debate on the military appropriations bill in the house, suggested that the statements of Rear Admiral Vreeland before the naval affairs committee were unwarranted. He asserted that if it were true that our position in the Philippines was so unstable, it would be a tremendous indictment of congress.'" ‘ I believe that we are comparatively secure in the far east,’’ he said. Our fori.'fixations on Corrigedor island at ti, entrance to Manila bay are strong enc'ig'i to withstand siege at that point for six months.” Many Japs in Hawaiian Islands. The Japanese question was again referred to when Representative Lindburgh of Minnesota asked Shirley: “It is reported that there are large numbers of foreigners in the Hawaiian islands and that an army might be organized there te combat our own. Do you know anything about that?” “It is true,” replied Shirley, “that there is a considerable number of Japanese in the Hawaiian islands) They have been drawn there by the sugar and other industries.”