711.945/1045: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Woods) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 15—6:54 a.m.]
69. My 68, April 14, 2 p.m.43 Although Japanese public in general and newspapers in particular apparently expected the House of Representatives to pass the Johnson bill,44 and yesterday the press comments in that connection were surprisingly moderate, this morning it is apparent that over night they have experienced a change of feeling as a resentful tone has crept into newspaper articles which express considerable apprehension over the status of the immigration question. The Jiji, not accustomed to speaking rashly on questions of foreign relations, says: “No nation retaining the [Page 375] least trace of its self-respect could tolerate the discrimination aimed at by the Johnson bill. The bill strikes at the very foundation of American-Japanese friendship.” While the chauvinist Yorodzu says: “America is now taking advantage of the weakness of the Japanese brought about by the earthquake and intends to insult our nation.”