Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 4, 1917

File No. 894.4054/16½

The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Labor

Department of State,
Washington, May 18, 1917.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith for your information and for such action as you may deem proper the copy of a note dated May 18, 1917, from the Japanese Ambassador asking whether it would be possible for your Department to exempt from the literacy test the “picture brides” who may leave Japan before the end of this month, inasmuch as a certain length of time is required to notify all the registrars throughout the Japanese Empire.

As the requested extension of time will expire within two weeks and as it is rather difficult to communicate promptly with some of the more remote precincts of the Japanese Empire, this Department perceives no reason why the proposed extension of time should not be granted.

I have [etc.]

Robert Lansing