The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-05-08
JAPAN HAS COP0|||
CALIFORNIA Bill
Embassy Preparing Protest Against
Alien Land Law.
NO HOPE OF AID FROM WILSON
Ambassador chinda Does Not Believe
That the President Will Be Able
to Influence the Califor.
MIA Executive.

May JdPdAO6C
embassy has been supplied by the
state department with copy Of the
Alien Land Owning bill passed by
the California legislature and the am
bassador will employ the time until
Secretary Bryan's return in preparing
formal protest against the measure.
Apparently the embassy has no
hope that any word President Wilson
may send after Secretary Bryan re-
turns will influence Governor Johnson
to withhold his signature from the
act, SO the only object of the protest
will be to acquaint the American peo-
pie with the Japanese contention, and.
If possible to influence the executive
branch of the government to endeavor
to nullify the action of the California
legislature.
The embassy will make known the
ground of its protest in diplomatic
note to Secretary Bryan. 1t is well
understood that to settle the question
will require the action of the United
States court. 1t will be for Secretary
Bryan TO determine whether the
United States government itself shall
become party to a suit of this charac-
ter, in the capacity of an Intervention.
International lawyers hint that the ad-
is in an exceedingly del
icate position, for the reason that,
while apparently champion of the |
Japanese cause, through the secretary |
of state, before the California legisla-
ture, probably from this point on it |
must defend the California law against |
Japan in the diplomatic struggle about |
to begin.
If the department should adopt the
California contention that the land law
1oes not violate the existing treaty
With japan, then it might feel bound
@ refuse to submit the issue to arbi-
ration by The Hague tribunal. Fur
hermore, it is commended that the
United States government probably
would be unable to enforce the decree
If the tribunal in case it should be
adverse to California, if the American
courts found that the state acted with
IN its rights in enacting the law. No
case has been found where the SUI.
oreme court has passed upon the rela-
i've forces of treaty which invaded
he reserved constitutional powers OF
sovereign state and of conflicting
aw of such state. So the state de-
'artment probably will establish a
recedent in disposing of this issue.
1t has developed that as a result
t the centering of attention upon the
alifornia situation a number of the
iplomatic representatives in Wash
1gton have been informally discuss
lg and comforting over alleged VIC
atoms of treaties by many states of
he Union. Violations are said to
ave occurred particularly in connec-
ion with cases involving the dispo-
ition of property of aliens who have
led interstate in this country and in 1
hitch local state courts have taken
lrisdiction in defiance of treaties.
Altogether there are indications of
feeling of unrest that may lead to
upon the national govern
lent which could not be complied
18th without a general Encouragement ,
the functions of the national and ,
tate governments, so far as they
oncern aliens.