Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-13
Communication to Califor-
MIA on Alien Land Law
Seeks Delay and Fixes
Responsibility. .s
WILSON ENTERTAINS
NO ALARM AT PRESENT
President Says That Great
est Frankness Has Pre-
vailed Between Govern
lnents About Controversy

Washington, D. c., May 12.-The
fact that Secretary Bryan has ad-
dressed an appeal to Governor John
son Of California tc6 veto the anti
alien land law inasrluch as the COVER
nor had, unofficially, at least, repeat
edly declared his purpose to sign the
bill as it passed the legislature, is
taken In official circles here as indi-
eating either that some powerful In
fluences have been brought to bear on
the government in the interest OF de-
lay, and more probably that the Will
son administration is perfecting it's
record.
In this action there may be a double
purrose. First, to satisfy Japan that
the federal government has done all it
can to prevent the legislation under
man. diplomats contend Japan should
have been aware when it entered into
treaty relations, and, secondly, to
place cn the state authorities Of Cali
forna the responsibility for any
serious outcome of the alien land legis-
laticn AS the legislature is near the
end OF It's session, 1t Is said that Gov
ernor Johnson's reply will ~be forth
com 'ng today or tomorrow. II he
yields TO Secretary Bryan's appeal the
element CT urS ency will be removed
as .1apannrc land owners in California
will MT he in Immediate danger of
loss Of their property, and the state de-
par ment ran at it's leisure embark on
negat,a ions with the Japanese en-
bas%v for a new treaty to replace that
of i"'l end provide some permanent
me"'s cs adjustment Of the rights of
citi tns Of one country resident in the
other .. ..
II vii be suggested possibly that by
a fiat declaration that neither country
shall a NIT the right Of citizens Of the
other to hold land in it's district the
Japanese may be satisfied.
Wilson Not Alarmed.
Washington, D. c., May 12-Presi-
dent Wilson believes negotiations be-
tween Japan and the United States
over the alien land legislation in Cali
fornia are not in an alarming stage,
bit that the Interchange of views thus
yar has been along frank and friendly
lines, calculated to remove the ap-
pearance of discrimination against
Japanese subjects. -r .,.
The president discussing the SUBJ
ject informally, today. took the posi-
tion that the Webb bill would not
violate the treaty between Japan and
the United States. He intimated that
Japan's protest was not founded on
claim that the treaty would be broken
in any way, but upon the feeling that
there was an effort to discriminate
against Japan on the ground If their
alleged ineligibility to citizenship.
The president revealed that the
question of naturalization had not yet
entered the discussion with the Jap
anese ambassador. but that course
underlying the bill, -, it was realized
that the fed>r raj courts had not finally
passed upon the question: of eligi-
bilit.-.s = z4 = ~.G. " --. ~.
It. was upon the basis that Japanese
were not accorded the privileges of
that the appearance of
written in the bill had
arisen and 1t was intimated at the
white house that for the present the
hope was that the legislation in Cali
fornia either would be vetoed by
Governor Johnson or delayed by a
referendum to permit smoothing over
sor1e features Of the situation.
Dispense With Formally.
President Wilson endeavored to
make it plain that the greatest frank
ness, had prevailed between the two
governments, even to the abandonment
Of many diplomatic formalities. The
thus far between Secretary
Bryan or President Wilson and the
Japanese ambassador we're described
as being those of zone gentleman to
another" :. s%55-.-,.4 AL"
Intimations that the Japanese pro-
test itself was couched neither in
vigorous nor aggressive language but
was formal and friendly in character
came from the president himself dur
ing his talk today and i. was pointed
out that the phrase "a very earnest
protest" employed by Secretary
Bryan in his message to Gov. Johnson
was the description of the note which
the American government had enter
tained rather than the emphasis of the
Japanese ambassador.
4 The president was disposed to talk
{. ELY of the subject Mand appeared
confident a satisfactory adjustment
would be accomplished.