Private and Confidential
40575
550
Notes of a private conversation with the Hon. W. H. Taft October 12th 1907
REG 18 NOV 07
Mr...
There is a syndicate in Japan which has an interest in promoting Japanese emigration and has brought pressure to bear on the Government by stirring up the Press. Also the Japanese are somewhat tête montée since the War, and strongly resent any differentiation between themselves and Western nations. They therefore will sign no treaty or pledge or Convention but they are willing to limit emigration to America by administrative action and are quite friendly. Every Japanese emigrant must have a passport (due to conscription) America does not allow Hawaii passports to serve as permits to land in America. He advised Japan to limit emigration to Hawaii and Honolulu were already 65,000 in the former (?) and they are truculent people because there eventually will cause trouble.
I asked whether Japan would make a convention re exclusion if America reciprocated. He pointed out the suggestion that if Phillipinos were allowed to work at half wages it would strain the alliance if Japan were involved with America. He sent ... obviously been made. He thought they would.
So the Japanese would be driven for...