The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-09
Roosevelt Urges Ca|ifOrnians to Observe Treaty ReIa-
 tiOns With Japan
GOVERNMENT WILL TEST
 LAWS IN FEDERAL COURTS
The President Tells Speaker Stanton of the California House That the Bill sJust Passed Gives
 Cause for Irritation.

Washington, February S.-"The policy of the administration is to combine the maximum of efficiency in achieving the real object which the people of the Pa eiae slope have at heart, with the min imuI of friction and trouble, while the misg dided men who advocate such ac- ton as this against which I protest are following a policy which combines the very minimum of efficiency with the max imum of insult, and which, while total ly failing to achieve any real result for good, yet might accomplish an in- finity of harm"
 In this language President Roosevelt today, in a long telegram to Speaker P. A. Stanton of the California assem- bly, set forth the governments view of the anti-Japanese school legislation now before that body.
 The President stated that the bill gives just and grave cause for irritation and that the government would be obliged immediately to take action in the fed eral courts to test such legislation, be- cause it is held to be clearly violation of the treaty obligations of the United States. A telegram t0 Speaker Stanton was sent only after a conference with Senator Flint and Representative Kahn of California, and F. k. Lane of the in terstate commerce commission.
 Presidents Letter. To Speaker Stanton the President sent. the following:
 T trust there will be no misunder- standing of the federal soveruments at titude. We are zealously endaavoring to guard the interest of California and of n desires of our western people. By friend ly agreement with Japan We are now carrying out policy which. while meet ing the interests and desires of the Pa cffc slope, is yet compatible not mere ly with mutual self-respect, but with mutual esteem and admiration between the Americans and the Japanese.
 ''Fhe Japanese government is loyalty and in good faith doing it's part to carry out this agreement precisely as is this government doing. This policy aims at mutuality of obligation and behavior. In accordance with it the purpose is that the Japanese shall come here exactly as Americans go to Japan, which is in ef- feet, that travellers, students persons en- gazing in international business, men who sojourn for pleasure or study and the like, shall have the freest access from country to the other and shall be sure of the best treatment. but that there shall be no settlement in mass by the people of either country in the other.
 laps Leave Country.
 During the last six months under this policy more Japanese have left the coun- try than have come in, and the total number in the United States has dimin- ished by over 2000. These figures are ab- solutely accurate and cannot be im- peached. In other words, if the present policy Is consistently followed, and works as well in the future it is now work ing, all difficulties and causes of fric- ton will disappear while at the same time each nation will retain it's self respect and the good will of the other. But such a bill this school bill ac- complishes literally nothing whatever in the line of the object aimed at, and gives just and grave cause for irritation; while in addition, the United States government would be obliged immediately to take ac- ton in the federal courts to test such legislation, as we hold it to be clearly & violation of the treaty
 "On this point l refer you to the numer- ous decisions of the United States su- preme court in regard to state laws which violate treaty obligations of the United States. The legislation would accom- plsh nothing beneficial and would tainly cause some mischief and might cause very grave mischief. In short, the policy of the administration is to com bine the maximum of efficiency in achiev- ing the real object which the people of the Pacific slope have at heart, with the minimum of friction and trouble, while the misguided men who advocate such action as this against which 1 protest are following a policy which combines the very minimum of efficiency with the maximum of insult, and which. while totally failing to achieve any real result for good, yet might accomplish an in- tinity of harm
 Efficient Action.
 If in the next year or two the action of the federal government fails what il is now achieving, then through the further action of the President and Con- gross it can be made entirely efficient. I am sure that the sound judgment of the people of California will support you, Mir. Speaker, in your efforts. Let me repeat that at present, we are actually doing the very thing which the people of Cali fornia wish to be done, and to upset the arrangement under which this is being done cannot do good and may do great harm If in the next year two, the figures of immigration prove that the arr engagement which has worked so success fully during the last six months is no longer working successfully, then there would be ground for grievance and for the reversal by the national government of it's present policy. But. at present, the policy is working well, and until 1t works badly it would be grave misfortune to change it, and when changed 1t can only be changed effectively by the national government.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
 Mr. kahn's Statement.
 At the conference at the White House MT. Kahn said
 q have read the President s statement on the Japanese question and think he