New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-12
PRESIDENT CONSIDERS
GRIEVANCE OF JAPAN
Confident That California Legis-
Iature Will Enact No En-
barraSSing Law.
WILL USE GOOD OFFICES
Most Favored Nation Clause in
Treaty Now in Force In
voked by Mikado's
Government.

Washington. April 1i.-President Wilson
to-day expressed the hope that the pend
ing legislation in California, by which
aliens ineligible to American citizenship
would be prohibited from owning land,
would not prove Objectionable to Japan
He realizes that Japan is lncliqed TO view
such legislation as contradiction Of the
spirit OF her treaty with the United
States. and. while officially unable TO in
terfere In the situation. he expressed con-
idence that the California Legislature,
cognzant Of possible international diff
culties, would enact 2 law that would
prove acceptable to Japan
The President talked Informally about
the question in his sem-weelly confer
ence with the newspaper men. indicating
the delicate points involved. While the
present treaty with Japan stipuates that
citizens of each country, while travelling
in the other shall have right to own
houses and factories and shops and TO
i'f"' sHit'f II says llOliiA4lS db'AA Aii'
right 10 own land. on the other hand
though the old laws OF Japan against
foreign ownership Of land have been abro-
gated, the imperial edict necessary 10 put
in force newly enacted laws has not been
issued. so that American citizens still
cannot own land I'm Japan.
While the administration does not con-
strue the treaty as giving japanese spc-
officially the right 10 own land, it feels
that the agreement does guarantee that
japanese shall be treated on the basis Of
most favored nation citizens under the
same clause as is contained in many
American treaties with other govern
nents.
The President stated that while these
points had been discussed the difficulties
really proceeded from our own domestic
constitutional arrangement He declared
that while nobody could for moment
challenge the constitutional right Of Cali
fornia TO pass such land laws as she
pleased. insofar as the federal govern
ment had gone beyond its powers or do
nestle authority in making 2 treaty. just
so far was 1t liable TO damages, but that IL
was really helpless in the situation.
Toxic. April il.-Bucl Nakano. president
of the Toxic Chamber OF Commerce to-
day paid visit TO Arthur Bailly-
Blanchard. Charge dAGaires Of the
American Embassy 10 whom he eN-
planned his views of tho japanese busi-
ness community IA regard 10 the Califor-
man land ownership bill. He requested
Mr.. Bafly- Blanchard to lay these views
before his government at Washington.
\ Joint meeting OF the Japanese politl-
cal parties is being planned TO discuss the
situation.
Tho clause Of the California bill provid-
ing for the confscaton OF the property
Of present holders who have been unable
TO become naturalized American citizens
has aroused the strongest criticism here.
Baron Saburo Shimada and other
prominent Japanese Christians say they
are convinced the passage OF the bill VIII
prove almost death blow 10 the Chris
ton propaganda I'm Japan. Count Okuma,
former Foreign Minister and now presi-
dent OF Waseda University urges the
missionaries 10 voice a strong protest
against the bill
Sacramento. cal, April 1.-THE aglta-
ton I'm political and business circles In
- a.. 81 al .ra "a %