Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-05
WILSON Receives
ALIEN Land !. Bill |
sidaptsAwaits Word from
Bryan Before Taking
Further Action.

WASHINGTON. May 5.--President
Wilson received today by telegraph a
copy of the alien land bill passed by
the California Legislature, now
awaiting Governor Johnson's sigma
ture. He let 1t be known the Federal
administration would take no further
step until Secretary Bryan returns
Thursday with first-hand informa-
ton
Mr.. Wilson told his callers that he
had not yet received the formal pro-
test of Japan. and intimated that be-
fore May 13, the last day for Gov
ernor Johnson to sign the BILL some
expressions might be expected as to
whether 1t would be in contravention
of the treaty with Japan.
Official circles here are of the opin-
ion today that the danger in the
Japan situation has not passed, and
that 1t still remains one of the biggest
problems which President Wilson
must face.
The Japanese, Toxic dispatches say,
are deeply ''grieted' over the passage
of the Webb anti-alien land law in
Californa. There will be formal
protest by Ambassador Chinda al
the command of his government.
1t is expected that Baron Chinda
will present his formal protest to
John Basset Moore, counselor and
acting secretary of state, today.
BY the use of the referendum the
effects of the Webb bill can be de-
ferred for eighteen months, it was said
today 1t is thought, the California
interests opposed to the measure will
be Governor Johnson's hands.
San Francisco mercantile and ex-
position organizations, it is thought
will invoke the referendum. 1t re-
ouires only about 10000 signatures OF
voters to perfect a petition Once
these are procured the measures eff
feet is held up until the result of the
State election. eighteen months hence
is announced Not unless the citizens
then give their approval does the
measure become effective.
1t is said that this device has been
suggested to President Wilson as a
possible means of averting trouble
with Japan.
Meanwhile the governments legal
experts are studying the Webb bill
in an effort to locate what may be
points of attack. Many officials here
believe the lawyers of the California
Legislature have succeeded In franz
ing bill that may successfully re-
sist attack upon the ground that 1t
violates any provision of the treaty
of 1911 between the United States and
Japan. In that case Japan would
need to rely upon the general pro-
visions of international law ito secure
relief from the threatened discrimina-
tion it alleges.
In some apprehension that an ef-
fort might be made to connect with
the present California situation the
recent placing of orders for three
dreadnoughts. the Japanese embassy
officials today declared these vessels
were appropriated for by the last
diet before the land legislation began
in California, and that placing orders
at this time was simply in execution
of plans to cover period of years
in naval development.
The Joint board, composed of the
highest technical officers of the army
and navy and headed by Admiral
Dewey, was in secret session today.
While 1t was special meeting. 1t
was stated that 1t had been in con-
temptation for some time. and It was
to have been called as soon as
Major General Wood returned from
his Texas trip.