The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-05-16
United States Governments
Reply to the Japanese Pro-
test May Be Delayed Until
Next Week.
WAR NOT PROBABLE
BUT is POSSIBLE!
u. S. Support of CALIFORNIA;
Action May Mean With
drawal From Fair and u.t
S. Goods Boycott.
tNationai News Association,

(National News Association
WASHINGTON. May 16.-Bearina.
the completed draft of the reply of the
United States to the Japanese protest
against the enforcement OF the Califor-
mia anti-alien land law Secretary of
State Bryan conferred with President,
Wilson at the white house today. prior
to the opening of the cabinet session,
Owing to a number of differences of
opinion about the tenor of the reply it
sage will not be cabled to Toxic as
soon as Mr.. Bryan had planned and II
may be delayed until after the cabinet
session next Tuesday.
Interest in the reply this govern
ment will make to the Japanese pro-.
test has been swallowed up for the mo-
ment by military measures taken py,
order of President Wilson In the way
of precaution.
Two companies OF coast artillery
were ordered to proceed to Honolulu.
Steps have been taken to increase the
defensiveness of Manila. The battle
ship fleet. which unfortunately is In
the north Atlantic ocean, is being put
in readiness for the long cruise to ths
Pacific in case of necessity.
Hope Move VIII BE unnecessar/.
1t is the sincere hope and expecta-
ton of the administration that Theses
precautionary measures viii prove un-
necessary.
Japan may not formally object to the
movement OF two batteries of artillery
But IL will be remembered that one OF
the causes which precipitated the war.
between that country and Russia was
the action of the latter in sending war
ships to Port Arthur.
The military preparations were the
result OF an accidental" conference at
the White House yesterday afternoon
between John Bassett Moore. the act
ing secretary of state; Lindsey NJ. Gar
rison, secretary of war: and Josephus
Daniels, secretary of the navy.
Meeting Follows chInda's Visit
This conference occurred between
calls at the state department made by
viscount Chinda, the japanese ambas-
sador.
Viscount Chinda was furnished q
copy of Gov. Johnson's telegram to
Secretary Bryan announcing an inten-
tion to approve the bill passed by the
legislature of the state. The ambassa-
doris call was for the purpose OF as
certaining two facts which apparently,
the Toxic government regards as inn
portant.
/. When the reply OF this govern
ment win be made to the japanese
protest.
2. When Governor johnson may bs
expected to sign the bill.
| Evidently Japan proposes to act fur.
ther as soon as II is informed Off
cially that President Wilson intends
to support California and the date the
law it considered Objectionable is put
into effect.
The president was unable to inform
the Japanese ambassador when Gov
ernor Johnson would sign the bin.
This is a matter in the governors
hands and he has set no date for final
action.
The occurrences Thursday show the
president is more concerned about the
Japanese situation than he has been
willing to admit.
Few here go SO far as TO say there
is any danger of war. The most that
is expected Is that Japan viii retaliate
by Withdrawing from the San Fran
cisco exposition and inaugurating a
boycott upon American goods.
Possibilities are Dangerous
But the friction such a policy would
produce can have possibilities of a
most dangerous character. II Is this
prospect that has moved the ad-
ministration to take precautionary mil
itary steps.
II the battleship feet were In the
Pacific ocean. IL is not believed there
would be any trouble with Japan over
the California legislation
But with the fleet scattered about
the ports of the Atlantic coast and
such a long distance from the scene
of possible strife. It is apparent that
Japan has a great initial advantage
which 1t would be difficult to over
come, especially as in case of trouble
il would seize Hawaii and thus deprive
this country of an important base in
rha mid Da1