File No. 894.4054/15
The Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador
Washington, May 28, 1917.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of May 18, 1917, inquiring whether it would be possible for the Department of Labor to exempt from the literacy test the “picture brides” who may leave Japan before the end of this month.
In reply I have the honor to state that a copy of the note under acknowledgment was sent to the Department of Labor for its consideration and for such action as it might deem proper. A copy of that Department’s reply, dated May 23, 1917, is enclosed herewith.
I am gratified to note that the Department of Labor believes that no cases will arise such as described in your excellency’s note of May 18, 1917, inasmuch as trans-Pacific steamship lines will doubtless decline to accept passengers not in possession of documents of the kind which they are required to present on arriving at a port of this country.
Accept [etc.]