Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-19
DON'T SIGN Jap
LAND BILL, BRYAN
BEGS GOVERNOR
Secretary of State, as Well as
President, Fear Com
plicatiOns.
CALIFORNIA SOLONS IN
ABEYANCE TILL MONDAY
Wires Hot Between Washing
ton and State in Effort
to Avert Trouble.

WASHINGTON. April 19.-Secre-
tary Bryan today telegraphed to.
Governor johnson, of California, re-
uuesting him TO withhold mis- sigma
ture from any anti-alien land legis-
lation passed by the California Legis-
lature which may be in violation OF
treaties between the United States
and Japan.
Secretary Bryan today declined to
make public the text of his telegram,
and with some reluctance discussed
the subject at all The impression
prevailed here that it was the desire
all around not to make public its text
in California until after it has been
presented to an executive session of
the Legislature.
Meanwhile, those in charge of the
legislation which Japan construed as
offensive to her national pride, have
asked the state department for spe-
cific information as to the exact limit
of the guarantees to Japanese and
other foreigners by existing treaties
and the department will clear UP that
point as far as it can, in the absence
of any judicial decisions in the ques-
ton
President Confers with Bryan.
Although President Wilson was talk
ing day of rest and all callers were
strictly barred, he did discuss the
situation with Secretary Bryan. All
officials here hope for some happy
solution of the question before the
laws are finally enacted.
The postponement by the California
Legislature of the alien land bills
until next week has the effect slightly
to relieve the tension here, though
every moment until the bills are
again taken up will be utilized in
exchange of messages between Wash
ington and Sacramento and other
points in California where influential
officials reside who may be able to
exert some influence upon the course
of legislation at the State capital.
President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan make no secret of the fact
that, though they are precluded from
officially interfering in the progress
IL legislation in California, they are
privately addressing themselves to
individuals to secure the ameioration
of the features of the pending land
bills offensive to the japanese gov
ernment
But, taking into consideration the
probability that in it's final form the
legislation may not apply to other
aliens than Japanese and Chinese.
the administration officials here are
giving some thought to the best
af
japanese government against the
proposed legislation on the ground
that it is in violation of treaty obli-
cations.
Root Adverse to Jap Claims.
While Mr. Root was secretary of
state he prepared a memorandum
whinh related to the right of Japa-
nese, 10 the United States to own
land for use for agricultural purposes
and his opinion was adverse to the
claim.
The failure of the japanese gov
ernment so far to issue a decree con-
frming the treaty right of Americans
who land in Japan may also be an
important factor in the negotiations
which may be expected to follow the
Ol Tit lSid-
tion.
Altogether officials profess to find
considerable material upon which to
base a defense against a charge of
non-observance of the treaty of 1910.
SAN FRANCISCO, April ia
cablegram from Toxic received last
night by the Japanese American, a.
japanese newspaper here, describes
the mass meeting of Japanese and
American missionaries yesterday over
which Count Okuma presided.
The message refers to the address
of Bishop Harris. of the Methodist
Episcopal Church for Japan and
Korea, whose cablegram to the
Legislature was the subject of com
ment in the Senate.
Bishop Harris wept while speak
ing and said he believed his forty
years work for peace and good will
between the United States and Japan
was about to be undone if the Cali
fornia Legislature did not modify its
attitude.