The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-05-29

'ossS'ss va say ivy eJS9 u 0OSS UOI
involve any violation Of the treaty
between the United States and
Japan, has caused great disap-
pointment in official and other
circles here.
Washington, May 23.-Reassuring
| advices have reached the state depart
ment from Japan indicating that the
American reply to the protest against
the California land law was received
in good spirit by the Toxic govern
ment and that the situation has taken
on much more favorable appearance
than at any time since the negotia-
ations began. Officials here admit
their satisfaction over the turn of
events.
Japan Realizes.
The dispatches related also that the
Japanese government realized fully
the difficulties under which the Wash
ington administration had labored in
handling this situation, understanding
the dual system of government in the
United States and the powers of legis-
AdlICil liGIl NY IuulOEuld.
The advices were of preliminary
character and made no prediction of
ensuing steps, but in general they re-
fected I. favorable view in Toxic OF
the American note replying to Japan's
protest.
President Wilson, who had no small
part in the writing Of the note, is said
rs, Il
airy terms what he believed to be the
real feeling Of the majority of the
American people toward Japan The
communication, it is said, pointed to
California-and only q part Of Califor-
mia, too-as having given evidence Of
a discriminatory disposition, and in
sisted that the United States as a
whole admired the progress that ia
pan had made in the last half century
respected the achievements of the Ja-
Danese people, and was sincerely any,
ious to show that it regarded Japan
on a basis of equality with all other
powers and nations.
Dealt With u. S. Spirit.
The note was about 1000 words long
and dealt chiefly With the spirit of the
American people toward Japan, max
ing little reference, it is understood,
to the tecllnicalitias of the new law
or the treaty. but discussing Japan's
contention that the California agita-
ton was in reality an act of unfrendli-
ness and discrimination toward the
Japanese.
While the situation is regarded as
satisfactory in official quarters, the
japanese slswer is awaited with keen
interest.
Attitude OF TOXIC Press.
Toxic -Tokio morning newspapers
agree that the question of the alien
land ownership legislation in Califor-
MIA has entered upon a second, more
difficult and more important stage,
since it is directly between the Jap.
anese and American governments.
They warn the public against thought
less agitation, pointing out that this
would now be interpreted as being di-
rected against the American nation
and not California alone
The situation, they aver, demands
the most careful and most conscien-
tious treatment of both sides, lest it
might lead to deplorable consequence
e5. The essence of the opinion is
that as Washington has gone on rec
ord in opposition to the legislation it
is reasonable to expect that the
American government will exert fur
Their efforts to nullify it.
Gravity of Situation Seen.
Notwithstanding the controver-
sy between the United States and ia
pan the Daily Mail in an editorial
says:
sit seems unlikely that Japan will
force rupture with so potent an ad-
versary over a matter of this kind,
but the Webb law treats Japanese as
if they were only semibarbarians and
Asiatic undesirables. The aspersion
rouses them to fury and in their anger
they may drive their government to
perilous lengths.
1.-THE gravity Of the situation has a
close personal interest for ourselves.
It would be distressing to find our
American kinsfolk in serious con-
1lict with our Japanese allies upon an
issue in which the Americans will
command the sympathies of western
Canada and Australia"