The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-21
JAPANESE NAY ASK
CITIZENSHIP RIGHT
Of UNITED STATES
impression Grows This VIII
Be Demanded Unless Alien
Law Abolished
TOXIC OFFICIAL
CIRCLES ALARMED
Are Finding 1t Difficult to Stem
the Tide of Popular An
ger Against This
Nation

WASHINGTON, May 20.--The en-
tire japanese issue Is UP to Japan
and 1t will be only as serious as Japan
cares to make it,
Now that this governments note
has been delivered to Ambassador
Chinda and transmitted by him to
Toxic, Secretary Bryan today indi-
Gated that there will be nothing do
tng in the situation 80 far as Wash
ington In concerned until the Japanese
government makes some reJoinder to
the United States in answer to its
protest to the California law.
The most interesting phase today
was the growth of the impression that
Japan intends to ask for her sub
jects In the United States the privilege
OF American citizenship. Dispatches
from Toxic both official and unof-
hcial indicate that the Japanese gov
eminent and people are unanimous in
the determination that citizenship
must be demanded unless the Cali
fornia law lis eliminated.
May Become Issue.
COMBINATION of this sentiment
among the Japanese was found also In
the words of the japanese representa-
tives of the leading political parties
who arrived at San Francisco yesier-
day to investigate conditions in Cal
.InFnIA AlfeFtiEG tuSH CouHtfysAeu.
This question of naturalization OF jap
anese was not mentioned In the Japa-
nese protest and neither Is it discussed
In the reply to this protest which Am
bassador Chinda received from Sec
rotary Bryan yesterday, but IL seems
certain that the question of citizen
ship will become the chief issue In the
controversy. This conviction Is based
partly on the fact that there lis ex-
f~& ho he rf ha TFnitaA
States will prove satisfactory to ia
pan and partly on the indications from
Japan that that country liz prepared
u make such a demand
The raising OF this question OF c1u
xeushfp by the Japanese would prove
embarrassing to President Wilson Ac-
cording to opinion here. The presi-
dent could not yield to the Japanese
demand when IL is made because the
question OF naturalization is solely in
the hands OF congress. That the sent
iment In the senate In overwhelmingly
against the granting OF citizenship to
Japanese already has ben clearly In
Dictated and II !s believed that in the
house the opposition to any such pro-
pogai would be even stronger. Know
ing this to be the case IT is considered
~ extremely unlikely that the presl-
dent would ever ask congress to revise
the naturalization laws SO as to admit
japanese to citixenship. On the 9TH
er hand, to refuse even to ask con-
greas to make such an amendment
to tbs naturalization laws undouhted-
~ would incur the resentment OF the
Japanese.
Meanwhile according to the best in
formed opinion here. the Japanese will
suffer Z rude awakening IL they VEN
ture 10 raise the question of citizen
ship. Such \ demand. II Is predicted.
would arouse tremendous opposition
throughout the country and cause an
agitation and discussion which would
be extremely unpleasant for the Jan
anese and embarrassing for the fed
eral administration. There Is little
doubt in Washington that demand
on the part OF Japan for admission
to . citizenship would reawaken all
tho dormant opposition to the Japa-
nese which exists in many parts parts
OF the United States and start dan
gerous discussion of racial questions
Lower Glasses Excited.
TOXIC. May 2o,-Since the news
that the California land ownership
bill had been signed by Governor
johnson was received here. the gov
eminent has redoubled its efforts to
pacafy public opinion 10 the belief
that Washington will fnd a peaceful
solution Of the problem. It is felt.
however. that ii will be difficult to
stem the tide OF popular anger against
the United States as the Japanese
generally regard the issue as one In
volving their national honor.
The bankers and big business men
OF the country are strongly in favor
Of moderation and are bending all
their efforts to avoid conflict. but
considerable alarm is evident In Of
ficial circles at the, attitude OF the
lower classes who seem to desire war
on any pretext and on any conditions.
The old Sasnurai spirit appears TO be
I revivinG and the emperor and his en-
tOurage, bearing In mind the success
OF the republican movement in
China, which has a strong effect on
the peasUntry and the workers In the
cfties OF Japan, are more or less
afraid to resist II.
Even the more conservative ele-
ments In Japanese public life are join
inE the popular demand for equaI
treatment Of the japanese and other
foreigners In America. Although they
do not express any fear that the pres
emit situation will result in war they
feel that 4 change in the attitude OF
Americans, al displayed by the action
az California. 10 necessary to assure
= continuance OF peaceful relations
between the countries. Arthur Bailey
blanchard. secretary OF the American
embassy, called upon the Japanese
foreign minister, Baron Nobeski
Aakino, today and assured him that
TIC United States would do its ut
mort TO find peaceful solution OF the
dispute asserting again that It was
Z not an American. but only Californ-
I'm issue.
John Bull Lectures Us.
!. n LONDON. May 2l.--Referring 70
tie feeling Of the Japanese that the
Z action OF the California legislature u
\ IN insult ia their country, the Even
~ leh4 81 xssssEa W.. azs: -.