The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-20
1t Is Handed to Ambas-.
sador by Secretary
Bryan. n 4
HE IMMEDIATELY
SENDS IT TO TOKYO
Action Taken by Washington as
Soon as 1t Is Advised That
Governor johnson Has Signed
California's Antialien Land
Bill-Great Secrecy ,
Observed. slN

Washington May 1s.-Secretary
Bryan late to-day handed Amba ssadorS
Chinda the reply of the United states
government to the Japanese protest
against the California alien land leg
isiation. The ambassador Immediate
~ cabled it to Tokyo. No intimation
out. ~
Upon learning Though press dig
patches that Governor Johnson had
signed the Webb land act. Secretary
Bryan telephoned Yiscount Chinda and
invited him to come to the State De-
partment to receive the reply which. he
had been anxiously awaiting since the
presentation of his own note May O.: IS
Hold Enrnest Conference.
When the answer had been deliver
ca. the secretary and the ambassadors
conferred earnestly for an hour re-
garding the general aspect of the prob-
lem. OF course the opinions expressed
We're tentative, as for his part the am
bassador felt that he must he guided
entirely by the directions of the For
eiGn once at Tokyo, and he could only
surmise what might be the attitude of
the officials at home Meanwhile IL
was understood that both the Japanese
protest and the State Departments an
swer would be withheld from puhlica
ton FOR the present. at least, on the
ground that 1t would be injudicious to-
<
TO heated discussion In the newspapers
and at possible mass eetines. The
negotiations between the two govern
ments are expected to proceed. in reg
ular iashion without further references
TO what takes place in California.
Viscount Chinda dispatched the state
Departments reply to his government.
anu it is assumed that several days
mny elapse before the next step il
taken. - %
in view OF the Understanding be-
tween the two governments regarding
Withholding of the correspondence froh,
publicity. none OF the officials at the
White House. the State Department or
inc japanese embassy cared TO inji-
cate the nature of the Japanese oh
Ject'ons or of Secretary Bryan's reply.
From other sources, however. IL waa
gathered that while the japanese al
lege technical violations of the treaty
OF 1911 by the California law, these
relate to minor provisions such as
that prohibiting Japanese from inner
ting property in California. The real
weiEht or objection Is against the spirit
or the whole legislation which is re-
garded as distinctly discriminatory
against the japanese. The spirit OF
the convention, as well as the genera
principles of International law. are rea
garded by Japan as outraged by this
act. The fact that the United States
Japan is cited as an admission of eo1al-s
ity. Us
Question OF International Iaw.
In his answer. Secretary Ervan is
understood to have recounted at lencth
efforts made by the administra ton to
guard against an infringement. of the
treaty rights of the Japanese. Officials
here believe that this substantially han
peen accomplished and that at any
rate. If the Japanese government takes
contrary view. it will be an easy
matter for ii TO test the matter i'm
American courts.
This is pointed out to seem to remove
the issue from one of treaty construc
ton. IL the State Departments view ia
correct. 10 the broad field OF interna
tional law.
1t is realized here that the Japanese
government is not much concerned
about the exclusion OF it's subjects from
America. for they are much needed .n
Manchurin. Corea and Formosa. Un-
deriving the whole objection. 1t is said.
Is the intense national pride of the
Japanese. which has been touched IN
the quick by the general deyelopment}
OF nnti-Japanese feeling on the Pacific
Coast
Official circles realize that the nego-
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