The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-05-15
WILSON BELIEVES
NIPPON Will NOT
STIR UP TROUBLE
California Governor Expected
TO Announce Purpose Soon
Law If Adopted Will BE
Tested Without Delay.

~ May l3.--President VIII
son. believes negotiations between
Japan and the United States over the
alien land legislation In California are
not In an alarming state, but that the
Interchange OF views thus fer has been
along frank and friendly lines calcu-
lated to remove the appearance OF dis
examination against the Japanese sub
jects.
The president discussing the subject
informally today took the position that
the Webb bill would not. violate the
treaty between Japan and the United
States. He intimated that Japan,s pro-
test was not founded on a claim that
the treaty would be broken in anyway,
but upon the feeling that there was,
an effort to discriminate against the
Japanese on the ground OF their alleged
lnehgibility to the citizenship,
Basis Of Protest.
The president revealed that the
question or naturalization had not yet
entered h discussion with heAJapan-
csc ambassador, but that of course
under lying the bill, 1t was realized
n the federal courts had not finally
passed upon b question Of eligibility.
1t was upon the basis that Japanese
We're not accorded the privileges of
c~ltizenship that the appearance Of dis
examination written in the bill had
arisen and it was intimated at the
White House that for the present the
hope was that the legislation in Calf
ornia either would be vetoed by Gov
ernor Johnson or delayed by a refer
endum to the purpose OF smoothing
some Of the features of the situation.
Frankness Prevails. "
president Wilson endeayored to make
IT plain that the greatest frankness
had prevailed between the two govern
Q ever to the abandonment of
many formalities. The con-
1erences thus far between Secretary
Bryan or President Wilson and thu
Japanese ambassador we're described
as those or n gentleman to another.
lntimattons that the Japanese protest
ltselr, was couched neither in vigorous
nor aggressive language, but was for
NAL and friendly in character. came
from the president himself, during his
talk today and 1t was pointed out that
the phrase "a very earnest protest"
employed by Secretary Bryan in his
message to Governor Johnson was the
description of h note which the
American government had entertained
rather than the emphasis OF the Japan
csc ambassador. p.
The president was disposed to talk
freely on the subject and appeared
confident that a satisfactory
rnent would be accomplished. ~,
r. Secretary Bryan's statement, which.
was framed after a conference with the
president, was dispatched last night
and made public at the White House a
few minutes later. 1t was as follows:
THE president directs me to express
his appreciation OF your courtesy in de-
laying action on the land bill now be-
fore you until its provisions could be
communicated to the Japanese govern
ment. His excellency, Baron Chinda,
on behalf of his government, has pre-
scented an earnest protest against the
measure. As you have before you but
two alternatives, Wig: to approve or to
veto, 1t will avail nothing to recall to
your attention the amendments sug-
gested to the Legislature, n as the
president has already laid before you
his views upon the subject 1t Is an
necessary to reiterate them.
He passed yer questions affecting
treaty rights for two reasons, first, be-
cause the bill passed by the Legislature
is aVowedIy intended to conform to-
treaty obligations and, second, because
any conflict complained of would be a
matter for the courts. But the presi-
lent feels justified in expressing again
his desire that action on the subject be
deferred for this session and he ex-
presses the desire the moro freely be-
cause the legislature can be recon-
vened at any time If the welfare to-
the state requires it.. He Is fully alive
to the Importance of removing any root
of discord which may create antagon-i
ism between American citizens n the
subjects Of oriental nations residing
here, II he Is impelled by a n or
duty to express the hope that you VIII
see ft to allow time for diplomatic eff
forts. The nations affected by the pro-
posed law are friendly nations--nations
that have shown themselves willing to
In the establishment OF har-
7monious relations between their people
and ours. s
IF a p~ostponement commends itseit
to your Judgment, the president Will be
pleased to cooperate in a systematic
effort to discover and correct any eVlls
that may exist in connection with land
ownership by aliens" -
The decision of the administration 20
urge Governor Johnson to use ms
power OF veto to postpone any lana
legislation was reached after a series
of conferences between the PRESIDENT
Secretary Bryan. and John Bassett
Moore, counsellor of the state depart
ment. and frequent calls by
dor Chinda.