The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-20
Johnson ASKED
NOT TO SIGN ANY
ALIEN LAND BILL
Appeal Is Wired to Him
by Secretary Of State
Bryan.
SEEKING TO AVOID
OFFENDING JAPAN
Not First Communication That
Has Been Sent to Governor
of California in Effort to
Straighten Out Tangle
Arising From Pro-
posed Legislation.
Especial to The Times-pispatch. !

lopeNiei 10 ne L lllneS- Dispatch
Washington. April , 19.-President
Wilson. thoroughly alarmed over the
rising tide of anti-American feeling in
Japan. caused Secretary Bryan to send
n telegram to Governor Johnson. of
California. urging conciliatory policy
toward the Oriental nation in the pro
posed allen land legislation
The step was taken by the President
over the protest of the California dele
cation, the members of which declare
the national government has no right
10 interfere in matter 80 vital TO the
future social and Industrial life of that
community.
MeasnEc to johnson.
Here iB the message to Governor
Johnson:
"The President directs me to ,a,
mat while he fully recognizes the right
or the people of California to leRi.-
late according to their Judgment on tn e
subject of land tenure, he feels 1t his
DUTY TO urge recognition of the in
ternatfoDni character of nuch IexisIa-
uon. Being anxious to preseryc and
strengthen the long-standing friendly
relations existing between this country
and the nations of the Orient, he very
respectfully but most earnestly advise,
against the use OF the words .ineIigibIe
TO ciuEenahip! He asks that you bring
this view to the attention of the Iex,s-
iators. He believes the Scnntc bill M.
teiesraphed to the Department of State
In greatly to he preferred. Tint bill
limited ownernhtp 60 citizen. and those
who had declared their int tcntions To bc
come cftizcnn.
tsiEnedD "Iv. J. BRYAN
The telegram was the result of 3
two hours conference between the
resident and State Department Off
cials Confidential reports were read.
~mch teii that the warning political
factions In Japan are making use OF
the California incident to arouse feel
ing among the uncducated masses.
which could easily precipitate war
Inc Californians themselves have
expressed desire 10 be enlisht ned
AS TO the exact limit of protection CON
ierred upon the Japanese by existing
treaties. The State Department prob
any VIII clear up that point AZ far
az IT can in the absence OF judicial
decisions on the subject matter.
1T is not the first con Z unIcation on
thlh subject OF corrcsp -ndence II is
said, that has been exchanged with
Governor Johnson
Tension Is Relieved
Ihe postponemcnt by the California
legislature of the alien land bills until
next week has the effect TO slightly
relieVe the tension here. though every
moment until the bills are again taken
up Will be utilized in exchange of mes
sages between Washington and Sacra-
mento and other points in California
where influential officials reside who
may be able TO exert some influence
upon the course of legislation at the
State capital
President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan make no secret OF the fact that
though they are precluded from ofnci-
ally interfering IN the progress of
legislation in California, they are pri-
Vately addressing themselves to indi-
viduals to secure the amelioration OF
the features of the pending land bills
offensive to the Japanese government
But taking into consideration the
probability that in its final form the
legislation may not apply to other
aliens than Japanese and Chinese. the
administration officials here are giving
some thought to the best means of
meeting protest by the Japanese
government against the proposed legis-
lation on the ground that it is in vio-
lation Of treaty obligations.
While Efr. Roof wa Secretary Of
State he prepared a memorandum VIII CHI
related to the right OK Japanese in
the United States to own land for
use for agricultural purposes, and his
opinion was adverse to the claim
The failure of tho Japanese govern
ment so far to issue a decree confirm
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