Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-20
NEXT MOVE NOW
UP TO JAPAN ON
ANT|-AL|EN BILL
Mikado's Rejoinder to Uncle
Sans Reply Eagerly Looked
Forward To.
TEST CASE BY A JAP IN
FEDERAL COURT LIKELY
Course Is Foreshadowed in
Case California Starts Es-
cheat Proceedings.

WASHINGTON, May 20.--with the
answer of the United States to its
protest in hand, it is now up to the
Japanese foreign office to take the
1ext step in the negotiations over Inc
California alien land act. II is ex-
ected that the forthcoming rejoinder
to Secretary Bryan will be strongly
argumentative and calculated to re-
suit in the conduct OF the future ne
gotiations on a strictly legal basis.
As it is understood that the state
department is looking to the Japan
csc government, or some Japanese
citizen, to test the new law by re-
course TO the United States courts,
It may be significant of the drawing
of another issue that the Japanese
are believed to be reluctantHto begin
such a movement. In his protest of
May 9 to the state department the
Japanese ambassador is understood
to have made it perfectly clear that
Japan, finding it impossible to deal
directly with the State of California
was relying entirely upcn the Fed
eral government to insure what he
believes to be fair treatment for its
subjects Pre- bably that contention
viii be extended to cover the legal
test of the California land law,
though the ordinary procedure in
such cases would be to allow Jap
anese subject, threatened with
escheatment of his lands, to begin
action by application for an injunc-
ton
Meanwhile it is expected that sew
eral days will elapse before the Jap
anese rejoinder is received, In view
of the fact that ten days were taken
for the preparation and delivery of
the American reply to the original
protest.
President Wilson plainly indicated to
callers yesterday that he considers the
racial pride of the Japanese lies at
the bottom of the whole matter-that
the feeling that Americans do not
conrider the Urientals on the same
level with themselves has produced
a hot resentment IN Japan which has
found outlet in the present situation
TOXIC. May 20.-The news that the
Californian alien land ownership bill
had been signed by Governor john
son was received here with regret,
although it had been discounted in
official and non-official circles 1t vas
hoped up to the last moment, how
ever, that Washington's intervention
would prove successful. The news
papers published extra editions with
the announcement that tbs bill had
been signed.
The efforts of the Japanese govern
ment are concentrated at present on
pacifying public opinion, bu tthe task
is regarded in many quarters as
more difficult one than at the time of
the California school controversy or
even year ago.
Since the death of the old Japanese
Emperor the authority of the govern
ment has steadily diminished in re-
sisting the growing influence of pub
lie opinion and the spirit of democ-
racy is augmenting throughout the
empire.
IT is generally believed here that
Washington will find a solution of
the problem, but the more conserva-
tive elements in Japan are now echo
ing the public agitation for equal
treatment of the Japanese. They de-
clare that the racial issue, which it
is contended is involved, and the
steady recurrence of anti-Japanese
bills in California should receive
"basic curative treatment