The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-07
Grief IN BUNCHES
Two International Complaints
Come to Washington.
British and japanese to File
Their Formal Objections.
ONE FROM EAST, ONE WEST
Coincidence That Would BE
Dangerous in War.
Cecil Spring-Rice Makes His
Opening Arguments.
ONE FROM EAST, ONE WEST

washington,
school of Lord Pauncefote and his
pupil" was the astonishing remark oy
Cecil Spring-Rice in his first inter
view with the president of the United
States.
The statement of the English am
bassador is the talk of diplomatic
Washington. 1t is generally construed
as a direct announcement to our coun-
try of the attitude which he will main
tain in the further discussion of the
y-Pauncefote treaty and the rama
ma canal tolls
1t is well known that Sir Cecil was
sent tC Washington at this particular
time because of his intimacy Win
Lord Pauncefote and his acquaintance
with the unwritten negotiations at
tending the Hay-Pauncefote treaty ana
it is generally understood that TINS re-
mark places the ambassador on recoro
as of the Pauncefote view which ne
will hold unyielding on the British
contentious which he has brought with
him and which he probably conveyed
substantially to the president today
The most conservative of diplomats
regard it as significant that this tram
ed diplomat in his first conversation
with the head of the government
should have so closely aligned hlmseIf
with the one British statesman whose
name brings up inevitably the conten-
tion between the United states and the
British government.
John Bassett Moore, acting secre-
tary of state, declined, as usual, TO
elucidate any of the questions that
have been urged upon the state de-
partme by Great Britain and Japan.
And with the central question be-
fore the American government Is the
coincidence and the cooperation OF
the English and Japanese claims.
The White House and the state de-
RI ant
japanese ambassador of Japan'S pro-
test against the alien land law as
clear cOntravention of the treaty of
1911. 1t is also officially announced
that this protest will be discussed by
Ambassador Chinda and Secretary of
State Bryan Immediately upon the re-
turn of the secretary to Washington
on Thursday morning
Japs Disturb Administration.
This swift action by Japanese which
is taken in advance of the signature to
the alien land law by Governor john
son has had an awakening and dis
tinctIy disturbing effect upon the ad
miniStration.
Government officials in touch with
the possibilities of the situation regard
it as more serious and more menacing
than it has ever been. 1t is seen now
that Japanese officials have been wait
ing with deep interest the presentation
of the British protest against the
Panama canal tolls which may be
filed at the state department on the |
same day as the Japanese protest.
1t is known that the reply to the |
Japanese protest is already under way |
and that it will take the form of an
evasion of the main charge. The state
department will seek to have executed |
some preliminary protocol that will |
take the keen edge off the demands of |
Japan.
So far as can be learned out of the
dense fog at the state department and |
the White House the one object of the |
state department will be to avoid direct |
issues and enter upon processes of de-
lay. 1t is reported that Mr.. Bryan's |
hope is that he may be able to induce |
the japanese ambassador to agree to
a modus vivendi with the effect that |
this will prevent the intrusion of the |
senate or house into the affairs of the
state department and the White House
and Japan.
Japan's protest, it is learned, is very
brief and follows the theory of prin-
ciple of the reply of Ambassador Bryce
to the position of Secretary of State
anna canal tolls.
The japanese protest does not deal
with the rights of the state of Cali
fornia or with what action may be
taken by courts or congresses on the
subject but asserts that the treaty of
Japan have been violated.
Treaty Obligations Brought Out.
Both Great Britain and Japan have
assumed the formida BILE ground that
treaty obligations cannot be annuIled
by state or federal statutes. They
further take the position that it is for
the United States to make amends
it's own resources or submit
the matter to arbitration.
Japan holds in her protest that it is
an agreement between the United
States and Japan that the citizens of
Japan shall be given mutually equal
treaty privileges.
Great Britain holds in her protest that
the United States agreed to give itself no
special rights as against Great Britain in
the matter of Panama canal tolls. Great |
Britain claims that the free tolls pro-
vision violates the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
and that the treaty is paramount to an
act of congress.
Japan has purposely made her case so
that it will be parallel to that of Great
Britain and has put the state department !
IN the attitude of having to trea+ yr1+t1 |
two countries alike. In other words if
the administration should agree to submit
the British case to arbitration. Japan will
contend that the same rule should apply
TO the japanese protest
No one in Washington believes that
Great Britain will force an issue with the
United States in the spirit that ap-
pears to animate the japanese govern
ment
garded of more interest and more
fraught with dangerous consequences
han the trouble with Great Britain.
And the tremendous fact comes from
he White House that the administration
realizes that the country will not be able
TO defend itself against Japan for weeks
10 come.
Japan thinks the English contention will
hold the Atlantic fleet the eastern +,