137
Mohammedaniem was of course included in the
expression "other religions" in Article 1 of
the bill and if it became more active in Japan
its position would be fully considered and it
might be recognised under the provisions of
Articles 1, 3 and 6. Pending such recognition
the activities of its adherents in Japan could
be regarded as those of a "religious society"
(under Article 23), and though for the time
being it would not be possible to give existing
"churches", 1.e. the Mosques, special privileges
they would be able to secure exemption from
taxation when they had developed to a point at
which they could be recognised under the provisions
of Article 6.
8.
This point was again raised in the
House of Representatives to which the Mohammedan
Association of Japan (please see the letter of
the 9th September, 1938, from the Chancery of
this Embassy to the Far Eastern Department)
presented a petition urging that Mohamedani am be
given official status in the same way as Shinto,
Buddhism and Christianity.
Efforts to induce
the authorities to amend the wording of the bill
were also made by El Sayid Hussein bin El Kibey,
a member of the Government of the Kingdom of Yemen,
who accompanied Prince Seif on his visit to Japan
last /