Evening journal., 1913-05-19
JAPANESE
CONTROVERSY
NOT SERIOUS
President Expects Early and
AmiCabIe Settlement Of
Question
NO NEAR CRISIS" OR
MEDDLING BY POWERS

CBy Bond p. Geddes. staff correspon-
dent of The United Press.)
WASHINGTON. May 19.-Presidont
Wilson is serenely and confidently
expecting an early and amicable set
tlement OF the Japanese controversy.
So is the Mikado. There is no
crisis no near-crisis, little serious
anxiety. and no interference from
foreign powers as elements in the
present diplomatic negotiations.
This was the Presidents mind as
exposed today in his semi-weekly
conference with newspaper cores
pondonts. For the FIRST time the
President laid bare his position on
the Japanese question He pictured
all the lights and shadows of the
diplomatic situation.
SSurrendering his usual tactics Of
parrying questions, the President un-
feservedly gave his interviewers the
complete inside information" as he
sees it, But after talking with re-
markable freedom upon phases loaded
with diplomatic dynamite" the
President invoked a ban of secrecy
upon the correspondents upon the
more. delicate subjects. He gave Or
ders, positive and emphatic, that they
could not and must not use opinions,
which he said we're purely personal"
upon causes inspiring Japan to her
present insistent stand against the
California bill.
The President indicated clearly that
he followed his confidence plan" IN
order TO spike" beyond peradventure
OF misunderstanding the utter and aD-
solutely unfounded reports that there
is any issue raised between the United
States and Japan which cannot be
solved by friendly nations and which
Will result in certain and permanent
friendship between the two nations.
Sources OF Japanese "war talk"
are purely cOnjcctural, the President
believes. His reports from the Ameri-
can charge d'ahfaircs at Toxic minimize
the reports Of inhamed anti-Americau
sentiment in Japan. Just how far
reaching or how official" the Japan
egc opposition has gone cannot be
definitely asccrtaincd. But the Presi-
dent feels that the friendly offices OF
this government in the matter are
thoroughly understood-an also ap.
{ preciatod-by the Japanese govern
mcnt
/ Not until Governor Johnson Of Cali
fornia, has signed the Webb bill will
I Secretary of State Bryan reply TO the
Japanese note of protest the Presi-
dent gave his auditors to understand
This he explained, is because neither
nation is inclined to be hasty in the
matter. Both are willing and anxious
for continued and carefully consid-
cred future exchanges of notes. and
not disposed to plunge into an imme-
diate settlement. which is rot provo
cative of Increased friendship
No further negotiations with Gov
ernor Johnson are anticipated, the
! President explained
The tentative draft Of the note in
reply TO Japan is all ready, how
ever. It is being held by Secretary
Bryan TO await the signing of the
Webb bill
Disposition Of the foreign powers
to keep hands off in the japanese
situation is a source of satisfaction
to the President in what he believes
is a matter between friends" in the
case Of Uncle Sam and the Mikado.
The President is advised that sen
timent in California as to the anti
alien bill is greatly divided. He has
been told that citizens Of northern
California are much more strongly
supporting the Webb bill than arr
those of the southern portion of thu
State. He refused to discuss the
prospects Of success Of a State refer
endum in California to overturn th'
Webb bill