The Dominion. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1920. JAPAN AND AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 44, 16 November 1920, Page 6

The Dominion. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1920. JAPAN AND AMERICA

Some rather serious obstacles are raised at present to a friendly understanding between the' United States and Japan, but it is undoubtedly true, as the new American Ambassador to Japan (Mb. Morris) observed a day or two ago, that no question pending between tlio two Governments is insoluble. From any standpoint of common sense war between Japan and tho United States is, as Me. Morris declared, unthinkable. In spite ot the outcry of jingoistic elements in both countries, there arc good grounds for believing that ' this view will prevail. The present situation, with negotiations at an inconclusive stage, is of vital intercut to the people of the British Pacific Dominions, not because it holds any. immediate threat of war, but rather because it seems possible that these negotiations may culminate in a fuller and more lasting agreement than America and Japan have yet been able to establish. .One of to-day's cablegrams states that the American and Japanese Governments have reached an agreement in principle concerning the exclusion of Japanese labourers from tho United States but are still at variance in regard to the methods to be employed. If this is an accurate presentation of tho facts tho remaining obstacles to an agreement on the subject of immigration, winch is decidedly tho most contentious issue raised, ought not to be insuperable. The worst impediments to a settlement of this question are raised by extreme sections in either country which refuse to be guided by justice or reason. So far as Japanese immigration is concerned it rests with the United States to take the initiative in submitting the basis of an amicable understanding, and nowjhat the Presidential and other elections arc out of hand-this ought to bo accomplished in the comparatively near future. Both Presidential candidates expressed general sympathy with Cahtornian demands for the exclusion A Asiatic immigrants, but while Governor Cox stated that if ho wore elected California might expect "the genuine co-operation of the National Government in tho working out of ; a plan whereby she excludes the Oriental settler," Mr. Harding spoke in' more guarded terms. His party, he said, favoured "such modifications of our immigration laws, and such changes in pur international understandings

, . . as will guarantee . . . not only assimilabifity of alien-born, but the adoption by aH who come of American standards, economic and otherwise, and a full consecration to American practices and ideals." Both parties seem fo be agreed that the further immigration of Japanese labourers into California or other States must be prevented. The cautious tone taken by the Presidentelect at the same that the incoming Government will refuse to countenance the penal measures proposed ifi California against Japanese already resident there. At the recent elections, the California:] voters, by a referendum, endorsed a State law which not only forbids Japanese residents to own land, but forbids them even lo lease land. Before the vote was taken, however, the State Department announcer) that no outcome of the Californian movement would be acceptable to the country at large which "did not accord with the existing applicable provisions of the law, or the national instincts of justice." Moderate opinion' in the United States definitely upholds the view thus officially expressed. For instance, in the course of an article which urged that the Californian anti-Japanese agitation in its extreme development merely delayed the settlement otherwise attainable, the New York Evening Post observed that:

Part of Japan's complaint 'has been that Japaneso legally settled in California wcro made the subject of discriminatory legislation. Of this policy thero can be but oho opinion. That is adverse. Japanese 'admitted to this country are entitled to the same rights and privileges in any part of it as any other aliens. California must abandon her position in this matter, and treat the Japanese already resident in the samo way in which sho treats any foreigner. She professes her anxiety to avoid the creation of another race problem. The way to avoid it is not to treat men and women of another race, who are settled upon her soil, as outcasts.

Given the measure of justice and consideration here advocated, it is likely that 'difficulties connected with the stoppage of further Japanese immigration will soon be overcome, and that other issues, raised between the two countries will also bo settled. Apart from the immigration question, Japan and America are chiefly at variance over Japanese policy in Asia. Now that tho Republicans are about to assume office, American criticism of the arrangement under which Japan meantime holds the. Shantung Peninsula assumes new importance. The State Department, has protested also against the Japanese occupation of the northern half of tho island of Saghalicn, which was undertaken in connection with the punitive operations following on the Bolshevist massacre of Japanese subjects at Nicolacvsk, in Siberia. It is -unfortunately clear that the amicable understanding in regard to Asiatio policy which was supposed to havo been reached in the Lansing-lshii agreement of 1917 has yet to be established. Japan, however, has given reasonable assurances of readiness to settle all questions outstanding in friendly negotiation. The Premier (Mit. Hara) stated recently that the Japanese were occupying North . Saghalien pending tho establishment of a legitimate Russian Government, that Japan was ready to negotiate with China with regard to Shantung if approached by° China, and that while nothing definite could be'said about antiJapanese activity in California, ho hoped that a satisfactory settlement could soon be reached in view of the traditional friendly relations of the two countries. Ono of to-day's cablegrams is interesting in. this connection, and as an explicit denial uf some of the allegations which have l"vu circulated wirlol" by IP'-ir who distrust tho peaceful professions of tin: Japanese Uovornni'.'.ut. I The cablegram quotes an officer of I the Japanese Navy Department as stating, that every report that Japan is fortifying, or planning to fortify, or establishing naval bases in any of the mandate islands is completely false, and that he has informally suggested that an American Naval Attache should visit the islands. Such indications that she is intent on a policy of open dealing and

conciliation arc the less to be distrusted since with her pressing problems of population and trade Japan has everything to gain from preserving and consolidating peace in the Pacific. Hi is reasonable to assume that like the unjust attempt to penalise the Japanese already resident in California, the virulent anti-American campaign of a section of the Japanese Press is no real indication of national sentiment, and that the way is open to an understanding between the two countries which would not only avert; all danger of war, but create the conditions in which it would be possible to limit naval and other armaments. Incidentally an agreement'on these lines between the United States and Japan would go far to remove any doubts now entertained in the British 'Pacific Dominions about the wisdom of renewing the Anglo-Japanese Treaty.