The Washington herald., 1907-05-26

The japanese question, which has
broken out in a new form in san Fran
cisco, is not regarded as one so serious as
the school question, yet in view Of the cir
cumstances, it is one which has called for
action on the part of the Federal govern
ment Such action was taken promptly
by Secretary Root yesterday as soon as
the subject was brought to his attention.
1t appears that last Tuesday, during the
course Of the troubles incident 20 the
street car strike in San Francisco. several
japanese places Of business in that city
we're attacked by a mob and some prop
erty belonging 10 them destroyed. and
other indgnities We're hesped upon the
foreigners. According 10 the information
which the State Department has. a res
taurant in Folsom street, san Francisco.
conducted by japanese, was the scene Of
a disturbance in which several white men
were implicated. This was followed By an
attack upon a japanese bathhouse across
the street from the restaurant
The trouble arose because Of the alleged
election Of two white men from the res
taurant A mob took up the issue be
tween the white men and the japanese,
and made an assault upon both the res
tauTant and the bathhouse. with the re-
suit that both places were damaged.
According to the reports. the white men
entered the places and. after destroying
property, made their escape through the
rear Of the bathhouse.
In San Francisco. the affair WAS re-
garded only as an incident 10 the street
car strike and general labor troubles with
which the city is beset. and no report Of
It was sent out until after il was learned
that the matter had been reported by the
japanese 20 their consul general in san
Francisco. and by him communicated 10
the government at Tokyo.
Police Busy with Strike.
The explanation as 10 why no action
was taken in the matter by the suthori-
ties in San Francisco, and why protection
was not afforded the japanese. is that
the police Of the city have had their
hands f-ii iu dealing with the street car
strike and the disturbances which prevail
as the outgrowth Of the general unrest
in the labor situation Now that the affair
has been called 10 the attention Of the
State Department by Japan. which has
asked for the protection OF its subjects.
the matter has assumed an international
aspect and is regarded with a greater de-
gree Of seriousness.
The first intimation which the state De-
partment had officially of the troubl-
came in dispatch TO the department
from the Ambassador Luke T. Wright,
AZ Tokyo, who csbled Yesterday morning
that il was reported i'm Tokyo and pub
ished that attacks had been made upon
japanese business establishments I'm san
Francisco. Mr.. Wright apparently re-
garded the matter as Of grave conse-
quence, although his dispatch indicates
that the japanese authorities are treating
the incident with calmness and relying
upon the government al Washington 20
enforce its treaty obligations and afford
the subjects Of Japan the necessary pro-
lection 10 insure the safety Of their lives
and property.
Secretary Root at once communicated
the contents OF the dispatch to the De-
partment Of Justice, with the request
thai the Attorney General call upon tho
United States district attorney and the
United States marshal in san Francisco
for a fun report upon the affair. and that
they take whatever steps can be taken 20
afford protection TO the japanese. Attor-
ney General Bonaparte az once complied
with this request
AOki Visits Root.
lftfI, Iurrf. iv .t,. 1.,-.
Ambassador. Baron Aold. called al the
State Department and had a conference
with Secretary Root i'm regard 10 the mat
ter. giving him a full account Of the affair
as il had been reported 10 him by the
japanese consul general I'm san Francisco.
Ambassador Aoki's story of the case
was substantially as stated While en-
tirely calm in regard 90 the matter. the
Ambassador nevertheless requested Of the
State Department that protection 10 their
kin and property be given. He was given
assurance that this would be done. and
also advised of the action which the State
Department had taken ~ requesting an
investigation through the Department of
Justice
Baron Aoki left the department thor
oughly satisfied that everything would he
done 10 insure the fUl6llment Of treaty
obligations
Following the interview with the Japa-
nese Ambassador. Secretary Root tele-
graphed to Gov. Gillett, who is in san
Francisco watching the developments in
the strike situation. asking him TO make
an inquiry into the facts in the case at
once and II the matter is as reported. to
~ 10 tha. 4l. ,f
its part toward carrying out treaty obliga-
tions by giving the japanese the protec-
tion which the United States guarantees
TO them.
Advised TO Go slowly.
It was suggested to Gov. Gnlett that in
view Of the previous trouble. he should ex-
ercise special effort in this case. and that
il was incumbent upon him to see that the
police authorities Of San Francisco do
their fun duty in the matter There is no
doubt that Gov. Gillett will use every
means within his power TO comply with
the request Of the State Department.
The situation in which the Federal gov
ernment finds itself is somewhat annoy
ing. although similar situations have
arisen in times past
Under the treaty agreement with Japan.
this government guarantees japanese sub
jects the right to reside in this country
and the full protection Of the laws with
respect to the safety Of their lives and
property. At the same time. TO a large
extent. the government finds itself unable.
under our system of government, 70 afford
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