The "Hindu" in America: Immigration and Naturalization Policies and India, 1917-1946

Abstract

THE EFFECT Of United States immigration and naturalization policies on relations with China and Japan from the late nineteenth century through World War II has received much attention from historians. American treatment of immigrants from the other major Asian country, India, has understandably been ignored due to the absence of any controversies with the imperial government of India.' Yet the inclusion of the few thousand Indian immigrants within the anti-Oriental movement that became national policy during the World War I era was a constant irritant in the promotion of understanding between the United States and India, particularly with the Indian nationalists. At a time of general American indifference to Asian nationalism, the racially inspired immigration and naturalization policies of the United States were seen by Indians as the most tangible evidence of American public and official attitudes toward India. Within the limits imposed by British imperialism, the Indians protested and retaliated against the United States. Leaders of the Indian community in America, supported by