The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-14
JAPAN PREPARES PROTEST.
SECRETARY BRYAN WILD RE.
CEIVE BARON CHINDA'S EN-
PLANTATION.
Probable That Japanese Government
Will be Made Officially Acquainted
With Situation. Referendum Plan
May Bring Relief In Time.

Washington, May S.-The Japan
ese government, through Ambassador
Chinda, will acquaint Secretary Bryan
early tomorrow of the nature Of it's
objections to the auti-alien land bill
awaiting Gov. Johnsons signature in
California and by noon it is expected
that the position of The United States
government will have been defined to
the ambassador.
This understanding was reached in
conference which Secretary Bryan had
late today with President Wilson at
the White House and with Ambassa-
dor Chinda at the state department.
Secretary Bryan had to hurry away
to Baltimore to attend dinner there
and he talked with Ambassador
Chnda only few minutes, arranging
to meet him at $50 O'Clock tomorrow,
Immediately after which, by special
arrangements. the president and his
cabinet will meet, one hour earlier
than usual. to discuss the Japanese
protest. Afterwards Mr.. Bryan will
confer again with Ambassador Chin
da, explaining the attitude Of the ad-
ministration.
This was busy day for Secretary
Bryan on his return from Sacramento,
but he gave most of his time to the
California situation, discussing 1t at
length with John Bassett Moore, coun-
sellor for the department.
! 1t is believed here the referendum
movement being urged by Theodore
Bell, a prominent Democrat in San
Francisco, may have the effect Of
postponiDg the entire question for a
period long enough for the United
States and Japan to arrive at under
standing or perhaps negotiate a new
treaty covering disputed points.
While Secretary Bryan declined to
discuss the referendum and White
House officials were equally reticent, it
Is known that friends Of the admin
istration have told the president there
will be no difficulty in getting suffi-
cient signers in California to COM
plete referendum at the poll, on the
anti-alien bill.
In the meantime it is expected the
president or Secretary Bryan will adj
wise Gov Johnson of attitude of the
federal government. The governor has
agreed to withhold his signature from
the bill. at least, until the return to
Washington of Secretary Bryan. He
has until May 13 to act on the meas
ure.
1t is not known whether the views
of the Washington government will be
transmitted tomorrow or until after
Secretary Bryan returns here on Mon
day on his trip to New York. He went
to Baltimore tonight to address the
banquet to the commission arranging
for the celebration for the Treaty of
Ghent Neither at the state depart
ment nor at the japanese embassy
can any statement be had az to the
nature Of the Ambassadors forthcom-
ing communication.
The field of speculation, however. is
not broad, the recognized pre- ca hilities
being contention by the Japanese
government that the California legis-
lation would violate the spir if not
the letter of the treaty between the
United States and Japan in Cali
fornia privileges of land holding and
leasing necessary to the transaction
of their business and a general propo-
sition to negotiate a new treaty OF
trade and commerce.
secretary Bryan may meet these
propositions with a suggestion that
their consideration be deferred until
the California law has been signed and
the United States courts have passed
upon its constitutionality.