Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-04-20
legislation Must Not Discrim-
mate Against People Of Ja
pam is Import of Executive
Note,
SENATE BILL MAY NOT
CAUSE COMPLICATIONS
Secretary Bryan Discusses
Situation with Ambassador
Chinda and Informs Him Of
Administrations Policy

tII, Morning journal special Leased Wirel
Washington. April 10. president
Wilson and Secretary Bryan, iollow
ing the precedent of previous admin
istfations. today made known theit
views ON the international character
uf the legislation now pending IN
California by which Japanese would
bee prevented from owning land In
that state.
IN Il telegram To Governor Hiram
". Johnson made public both al
Washington and sacramento, Secre-
tnry BRYAN expressed the view Of Pres
ident Wilson that the California as-
sembly bin might be construed as
violation of trenty obligations with
japan. while the senate's measure as
drawn. would not he Objectionable, II
alien land legislation is 60 be enacted
at all Ia this the federal government
recognizes the sovereign right of cal
iforna to legislate according to her
own iudgment hut today's message
counselled caution.
The telegram. and other informa-
tiun from oliloWl circles Indicated
clearly that the provisions In the as
semby bin las which aliens "ineligi-
bile 20 citizenship would be prohibited
from owning hand were regarded here
as distinct discrimination against
Japanese. who at present are denied
the right of naturalization. The lam
guage of the senate bill RESTRICTING
ownership of land to citizens OF the
United states or aliens who have de
clarcd their intention OF becoming oiti-
zcns' is approved by the president, ~
he has discovered that this IL the
phraseoloeN of the statutes already iu
| force la New York Delaware, KAN
as. Minnesota Kentucky, Washing
ton. Missouri and the District OF Col
unbia. incidentally all these laws
make u impossible for japanese to
own land until they are able to declare
their Intention Of becoming citizens,
"a privilege which the lower courts
thus far have not given them on the
ground that they were not "of white
or African descent
BY enueting law similar to those
IN force IN several states. California
would not embarrass the federal gov
crnment, because no protest hitherto
has been made against the statutes
and the whole problem becomes one
oi naturalization, II is not unlikely,
however. that the Japanese govern
ment viii now attempt to have the
question of naturalization pressed 10
higher courts
Niseount Chnda. the japanese am
bassador today had long conference
about the situation with Secretary
lryan The secretary had been keep
Ing the Ambassador freely Informed
OF the steps taken hy the federal gov
cfnmeHi t0 preserve the treaty rights
of the japanese and accordingly
made known 10 him today the con
tents of the message sem at the dircc-
ton Of the president to Governor
johnson 0f California
Az Secretary BRYAN knows the pre-.
else nature uf the japanese objections
20 the pending legiaIation his recon-
mendatiun to Governor johnson ls
taken To- Indicate that the senate bill
VS. In such form that though not wei
come, II might at least he tolerated
pN the Japanese governments
Secretary Bryan also was In confer
enee during the afternoon with iarz
Anderson. the retiring Ambassador to
Japan regarding the situation IN To
ko as ho left II ANA the probable eN-
text Of the anti-Ameriean sentiment
manifested IN uass meeting and IA
the newspapers.