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Naturalization--Government policy

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Letter from David Starr Jordan to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from David Starr Jordan to Theodore Roosevelt

David Starr Jordan thinks that if Americanism is the true motto of the country, then Japanese immigrants who meet all the qualifications should be naturalized as citizens. President Roosevelt and his administration have been successful in preventing the creation of a “Jim Crow” class while also protecting America’s dignity in interacting with Japan. Even in interfering in local matters, it has only been limited to when there are possible constitutional violations at stake, like when the local school board in San Francisco made their ruling about the Japanese school-aged children. There are definite economic advantages to maintaining trade with Asia, but an influx of immigration to the United States does raise some valid concerns along economic and social lines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-03

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin, of the Chicago Tribune, describes an interview he had with the Japanese Ambassador Shūzō Aoki to President Roosevelt. Aoki said the Japanese government declined to exchange assurances with the United States about the situation in the Pacific unless the question of allowing Japanese workers into Hawaii and the United States mainland were settled at the same time. This attitude caused Aoki to consider resigning, but O’Laughlin urged Aoki not to resign and suggested that perhaps by refusing to negotiate, Hayashi wanted to restore Japanese prestige after the Great White Fleet was sent to the Pacific. O’Laughlin tells Roosevelt that it is obvious sending the Great White Fleet to the Pacific was the right thing to do, but asks why Japan would make assurances to France, Russia, and Germany that are not dependent on allowing the immigration and naturalization of Japanese workers, while assurances to the United States would require such an agreement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-04

Letter from John Hay to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from John Hay to Theodore Roosevelt

The law, originally approved by Congress on May 6, 1882, forbids the naturalization of people of Chinese descent. The courts have ruled that this includes marrying a citizen. Thus, a Chinese wife could not receive citizenship by marrying an American citizen. Therefore, Dr. Yamei Kin cannot receive a passport or be protected by American officers abroad.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-02