The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-20

feel that the California law deprives them
of any of their rights in the United
States.
1t is likewise understood that Japan
is invited to join in the negotiation of
a new treaty, in which IT shall be pro-
vided that neither country shall ofter TO
citizens of the other the right to own
land in its domain Questions of naturall-
cation, and arbitration, have not been
raised by Japan, and therefore are not
discussed in the reply of the United
States, leaving Japan, therefore, to
choose between recourse TO the courts,
and a new treaty in which she shall
give up what she has already lost and
in which Americans shall give up some
thing that they have never had or cared
about.
None Of these proposals will prove
acceptable to Japan. according 10 the
best informed opinion in Washington
II is known that the japanese govern
ment insists that the Federal govern
ment of the United States shall pro-
vide remedy. and that it is prepared
to refuse to look elsewhere for salts
faction. Dispatches from Tokyo show
. that this attitude of the government Is
also that of the people OF Japan.
Dispatches Are Significant.
1t is these considerations in the case
which caused Washington last night to
regard the crisis in the Japanese issue
as having been reached. In taking this
view of the matter, the significance of
dispatches from Tokyo is not lost sight
Of These dispatches state that while
speakers at the numerous mass meet
ings in Tokyo have deplored talk of
war. even the most conservative have
been unanimous in insisting that the
japanese government pursue a strong
policy in dealing with the United States
at Washington and insist on equality OF
japanese and whites. The fear is that
such a course will lead Japan into
position where she can not yield an
inch without loss of face" and at the
same time make it impossible for the
United States to concede anything.
Realization of the seriousness OF the
present issue with Japan has been in
Creasing rapidly in Washington in the
last few days. In this connection the
comment of the European press, point
ing out the possibility of a great con-
ffict on racial grounds. has gone faer to
convince the Washington administration
that it has on its hands a situation that
is loaded with dynamite.
The keener analysts of the situation.
men who have lived long in the Far
East find the chief sources of danger to
low the surface of the mere controversy
as TO the antl-Jspanese law passed by
the California Legislature. The opinion
Of these Americans who are well-in-
formed men. with knowledge of the ORR
ent. is not widely different from the
views of European commentators. who
in the last three days have startled
Washington officials by their plain talk.
The causes of the present dangerous
public sentiment in Japan have their
origin, it is acknowledged here. in the
feeling that the Japanese. sooner or
later, will he Obliged to contest the 60
called issue of race inferiority with some
great western nation. The conviction
that the United States, through the Cali
fOrnia law. is seeking to humliate the
japanese before the world as an inferior
race is the feature of the situation that
is stirring the Japanese and that is likely
10 cause the most trouble. II is this
feeling of race antagonism that has led
military men of many western nations
TO the conclusion that another struggle
between Orientals and "A great western
people is absolutely inevitable for the
settlement of this vital issue. 1t is this
view which now finds reflection in the
fran comment in Europe on the present
issue between the United States and
Japan.