The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-20
Formal Reply of United
States to Japanese Pro-
test on Alien Land
Ownership
NO INTIMATION
AS TO NATURE OF
REPLY GIVEN OUT
Secretary Bryan and Ambassador
Chinda Confer for Hour Concern
ing General Aspect of Prob
lem-Reply Sent to Japa-
nese Government

Washington, May 19.-Secretary
Bryan late today handed Ambassador
Chinds the reply of the United states
|eovernment to the Japanese protest
pgainst the California alien land legis-
tation. The ambassador Immediately
cabied 1t to Toxic. No intimation as to
the nature of reply wns given out.
Upon learning through press dis
patches that Governor johnson had
signed the Web land net, Secretary
Bryan telephoncd viscount Chinda and
lnvited him to come to the state de-
psrment to receive the reply. which he
hRd been anxiousIy awaiting since the
When the answer had been delivered
[fhe secretary and the ambassador con-
ferred earnestly for an hour regarding
the general aspect of the problem. OF
course, the opinions expressed were teSta-
|tve as for his part the ambassador
fet that he must be guided entirely by
the directions of the foreign office at
Nokio and he could only surmise what
might be the attitude of the officials at
home. Meanwhile it was understood that
both the Japanese protest and the state
|hepartments answer would be withheld
from publication for the present at least,
on the ground that 1t would be injudicious
to submit the delicate questions at issue
no heated discussion in the newspapers
ihnd at possible mass meetings. The me-
kotiations between the two governments
tare expected to proceed in regular fash
Hon without furthr reference as to what
takes place in California.
Sends Reply to Japan
Viscount Chinda dispatched the state
department's reply to his government and
|nt Is assumed that several days may
elss,se before the next step is taken
In view OF the understanding between
lthe twn governments regarding withhoid-
hng of the correspondent from publicity
none of the officials at the White House,
the state department or the Japanese en-
bassy cared to indicate the nature of the
japanese objections or of Secretary
Bryan's reply From other sources how
ever, 1t was gathered that while the
Japanese allege technical violations of the
treaty of 1911 by the California law these
| relate TO minor pTONiSiOiS, sutH do lila
prohibiting Japanese from inheriting prop
erty In California. The real weight of
objection Is against the spirit of the whole
Legislation whic his regarded as distinctly
X discriminatory against the Japanese. The
Nzpirit of the convention as well as the
general principles of international law
are regarded by Japan as outraged by
this act. The fact that the United States
has entered into treaty relations with
1apan is cited as an admission of equality.
Remove the Issue
In his answer Secretary Bryan is under
setood to have recited at length efforts
made by the administration to guard
against an infringement of the treaty
rights of the Japanese. Officials here
helieve that this substantially has been
accomplished and that at any rate, IL the
Japanese government takes a contrary
view, 1t will be an easy matter for 1t to
nest the matter In American courts. This
lis pointed out to seem to remove the is
sue from one of the treaty construction,
~ the state departments view is correct,
TO the broad field of international law.
J It Is realized here that the Japanese
.1woyernment Is not much concerned about
Ehe exclusion of it's subjects from Amer
fca, for they are much needed in Man
@churia, Corea and Formosa-
7 Underlying the whole objection, 1t is
said, is the intense national pride of the
Japanese, which has been touched to
l4he quick by the general development of
anti-Jabanese feeling on the Pacific coast.
Official circles realize that the negotia-
tions from this point forward must be
conducted with extreme caution, but there
Is q general conviction that an amicable
polution of the problems involved eventu-
ally will be reached.
Secretary Bryan said today he had not
communicated with Governor johnson
since the receipt of the governors long
message explaining his reasons for ap-
proving the act and probably would not
do 80.