The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-01
TOXIC WAR RUM0Rs,
REGARDED AS BLUFF
NO LONGER ALARM
Washington Not Entirely Sat
isfied With New Bills. But
Situation Not Serious
MEASURE TO PRINTER,
WILL BE PASSED SOON
State Legislature Acts Quickly
After Final Conference
With Secretary OF
State Bryan

WASHINGTON. April 3o.--Tha
federal administration finds only
negative cause for satisfaction in the
latest alien land bill proposed in the
California legislature, according to
the best Information available here to-
night. The chief source of comfort
lies In the foot that it might have
turned out to be ever so much worse
President Wilson wanted to indlce
the Californians to do one of two
things: Either to give up their plan to
legislate now In favor of some plan Ill
the next two years by the federal
government, or to pass bill of such
general character that the japanese
could find in it no ground for a charge
of discrimination.
Neither of these objects seems likely
to be achieved, unless the Californians
undergo a radical change of spirit up
on Mr.. Bryans return from San Fran
cisco.
No Treaty Violation.
All that the Californians intend to
do In the way of Difference to the fed
eral government is to give up their
plan to kill the system of leasing
lands to the japanese and to omit the
phrase aliens ineligible to citizen
ship The bill in its present form
likewise would not result violation
of the treaty rights Of Japanese,
though stscrowds the treksy up To the
limit, and makes 1t apparent that
California intends't to give the Japanese
only those rights which the treaty IT.
self guarantees to them.
That the measure IL adopted IL go
ing to bring forth resentment in Japan
is not at all doubted here.
Consequently. anticipating the
Japanese view of the matter IL the
latest bill becomes California law, adj
ministration officials are not ut all
elated over Mr.. Bryan's trip to Sacra-
mento. They already anticipate an
unpleasant half hour when the
Japanese ambassador comes to inform
the United States what the imperial
government of Japan thinks Of the
California land legislation. Nothing
further will be said by Japan until
California has reached her final de-
| cision, and either passed an alien
! land law, or closed up her legislature
for the season.
| Her treaty rights being strictly
| guarded by the careful phrasinE Of
the new bill it is. of course. matter
! of uncertainty as to what action Japan
will take in manifesting her objections
! to the kind of legislation which now
seems certain. 1t is expected that the
Japanese government will protest
against the proposed law as contrary
to the attitude of friendship supposed
to exist between the two governments.
and perhaps ask for Its annulment by
isthe federal courts.
While the war talk emanating from
| Toxic recently created some alarm
! here for time, there is now little dis
\ position to take such popular OUT
bursts with great seriousness. II In
/ pointed out that Japanese will GO a
/ long ways with a bluff II not called.
and that in the present situation her
( domestic situation and her problems
/ in the Far East are such weighty con-
siderations as compared with the ifsue
| with the United States as to outbalance
the alien land law controversy.