Imperial Diet

Both Houses met for the first time since the formation of the Kato Government (TIME, June 23).

Premier Takaaki Kato, in an address, expressed regret at the enactment of the U. S. Immigration Bill, promised that he would seek a new solution.

Outlining the policy of his Government, he promised electoral reform, anticorruption measures, State economy ; decided against raising loans; declared that the supplementary estimates passed by ex-Premier Kiyoura would be introduced with only a few alterations.

Much interest was evinced at the able speech made by Foreign Minister Baron Shidehara (onetime Ambassador to Washington). After declaring that his foreign policy would be to promote and to protect Japanese interests "with due respect to those of other nations," and after affirming Japan's duty to be the maintenance of peace in the Far East and on the Pacific, he dwelt upon three points: exclusion, relations with Russia, relations with China. Excerpts :

U. S. Exclusion. "The genesis of the Immigration Act lies in the marked increase of immigration, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe.

"It is generally believed it would be a matter of practical difficulty to merge these foreign elements in a homogeneous country of original Americans. . . .

"The new Act intended rigorous restrictions of immigration in general. There was no reason for embodying in this Act a provision designed specifically to exclude Japanese immigrants. Three points engage our attention:

"First, exclusionists say the Japanese are unassimilable with American life, and the introduction of such alien elements would prove a source of danger to the United States. This formed the essential plea for the exclusion of the Japanese. It was not on account of inferiority of the Japanese race that the exclusion clause was adopted.

"Secondly, it has always been consistently maintained by the United States that control of immigration is one of the essential attributes of the inherent sovereign rights of each nation. The importance placed on this point by the United States is due to special conditions in that country. . . .

"Thirdly, it should be appreciated that the President and the Secretary of State of the United States have, from the outset, shown opposition to the exclusion clause. Public opinion in the United States, reflected in a great section of the American press, appears sympathetically disposed toward Japan's position.

"Our protest against the exclusion clause is based on the conviction that discriminatory treatment, as laid down in that clause, is contrary to the dictates of justice and fairness, and is imposed upon us in disregard of the ordinary rules of international comity. Legislation is now an accomplished fact in the United States, but we can by no means concede the question closed.

"Until just contentions shall have been given satisfaction, we shall maintain our protest and shall use our best possible endeavors to seek an amicable adjustment of the question and ensure forever the traditional friendship between the two nations."

Russia. "Japan and Russia, being geographically contiguous and having important economic interests in common, are destined to come into close relationship with each other as good, friendly neighbors. . . . Recently, official negotiations were opened at Peking and we determined to make every possible effort to arrive at a satisfactory settlement, but we are not in a position to make a definite statement upon the course we may hereafter take on this subject."

China. "The question of China is evidently of particular importance, an fullest understandings should be maintained between the two countries. It is much to be regretted that stabilization of political conditions in China has not yet been achieved. It should, however, be fully appreciated that it is a tremendous undertaking for China to carry out the work of reform in all branches of her Administration to suit modern requirements. . . .

"We are willing to render any co operation China may require of us. We have no intention whatever of interfering in questions of internal politics . . . It is our intention to promote economic rapprochement between the Chinese and Japanese peoples subject to the principles of equal opportunity in China. The Chinese people will realize our policy of fair and square dealing. Treaties relating to China were signed at the Washington Conference. They have not yet come into force, but the principles that they stipulated are in complete accord with our own, and we are resolved to abide by the spirit of these treaties."

General. "We shall not confine our attention to questions relating to the United States, Russia and China. Our efforts will be directed to maintain and to strengthen friendly relations with all nations having important territorial economic interests in the Far East and on the whole Pacific, and generally to do our Whole part in securing to the world the blessings of peace and stability."

At the conclusion of the speeches, the House of Peers passed a resolution expressing its approval of the Government's policy in regard to the U. S Immigration Act.

The House of Representatives condemned the offending law by declaring that it blotted 70 years of friendship between the two countries, passed the following resolutions:

RESOLVED, that the House of Representative expresses profound sentiment opposed to the discriminatory enactment; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the House requests the Imperial Government promptly to take all proper measures which the situation requires.