The Cairo bulletin., 1913-05-04
British
/ BACK JAP FIGHT
ON LEGISLATION
Is Said Mikado is Backing Protes.
On Alien Bill in Connection
With England's Complaint.
OPPOSE THE COURT RULING
In the Settlement Of a Case in
Which the National Honor
is at Stake.

Washington. May 3.-From 4 an
official of the Japanese embassy. ii
was, learned today that the Mikadc
is basing the protest against the
California alien land law on the
identical ground which furnishes the
basis for Great Britain's complaint
against the free tolls clause of the
Panama Canal.
In certain well informed quarters
this attitude is viewed with alarm
ard Is construed as being indicative
OF a secret alliance between the
British and japanese. Japan hold;
that it does not require an overt ACT
either by the State OF California or
the national government to oonsti-
stnte Ii basis for what Jaran claims
to be a. proper construction of the
treaty.
= See British Counsel.
The ultimatum that has been de
liyerad TO the United States is der
mand that the treaty of 1917 bf
construed literally and the provis.
ions therein lived up to. The posi-
ton positively has been assumed
without. taking into consideration
the laws enacted by Japan giving
aliens land rights, which have nevet
been made effective. II IL f,irtheI
announced that Japan will Ignore 4
ruling on the constitutionality ol
/ the law by the United States
Supreme Court. as has been suggest.
ed by President Wilson.
This attitude is considered by of.
ficials here as furnishing further
proof that the Japanese are be,ns
counseled by the British.
When England protested agains
free tolls for American coastwist
ships the State Department, through
former Secretary Knox, informed
| Great Britain that If there was any
merit in the case it could be tested
in the United States courts aftel
American ships had been allowed tt
go through the canal without pay
ing tolls.
/ Ambassador Bryce, at the sug
gestion of Sir Edward Grey, tool
exception for Great Britain and salt
the question to be settled wa
whether or not the treaty had beer
violated. This the British claimed
could only be determined by an in
ternational board of arbitration.
Oppose Court Ruling.
| This is precisely the attitude TAX
! en- by Japan. They are opposed t,
leaving to the courts the settlemen
,of case in which national honor /
at stake as alleged in this case.
/ The intimation from Presiden
/ Wilson that he proposes as the nex
step to take case to the fedora
courts has raised a big question a
the State Department. Counselo
John Bassett Moore has been unabl
to find precedent for such proceed
i lure. He admits that the Chimes
lexclusion act was considered by tn
! United States Supreme Court, bu
this was purely a federal question
which involved no particular state
/ Another official OF the State De
i partment Is of the opinion that
| decision of the Supreme Court vii
i not only fail to settle the case, bu
lwSll close the door to any possibl
larbitration. Should the decision b
against Japan 1t would not be pos
sible for this country to arbitrat
| against the decision of its highes
court without harming itself befor
the nations of the world.
/ The consensus Of opinion as es
pressed here confdentially is tina
the California case has been mud
ldled beyond all possibility OF RI
demption by the Secretary of Stat
l,nless the administration shoul
decide to stand squarely behind tn
Californi;. Legis,ar..c and cha
!, ,tlengc the bluff of Japan.
4 It is understood here that Seer,
: tary Bryan has delayed his d,
parture from California because {
fresh demonstrations OF anti-Amer
lean sentiment In Toxic,