JAPAN: To Hell

“America is sending us to Hell.” Because of this unfortunate state of affairs (arising from the U. S. Immigration Bill) Viscount Kentaro Kaneko resigned as President of the America-Japan Society in Tokyo. For many years Viscount Kaneko was active in promoting American-Japanese relations. At the age of 71 he reflects that he is a Harvard graduate, class of ’78, that he has held many political and semipolitical posts. In 1905, at the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War, he was sent on a mission to the U. S. in the capacity of Financial Commissioner. It was during this first visit that he conceived a great admiration for President Roosevelt and it was likewise from that moment that he became active in fostering friendly relations between the U. S. and Japan. It is recounted of him that, during the Great Earthquake (TIME, Sept. 10, 1923), he rushed into his burning house and rescued a picture of his Emperor and an autographed photograph of “Teddy” and that the rest of his effects were destroyed. Now, because of the passage of the U. S. Immigration Bill, the Viscount has been converted into an American-ophobe.