Evening star., 1913-04-13
President Has Had One Con-
ference With Ambassador
Chinda.
MODIFICATION OF ALIEN
LAND BILL is DESIRED
Constitutionality Of Treaty With
Mikado's Empire Also May Be
Attacked, It Is Rumored.

President Wilson has had one confer
ence so far with Viscount Chinda, the
Japanese ambassador, and probably
will have others in the near future. in
view of the ambassadors latest in
structions regarding the California
alien land-holdtng legislation.
1t may be stated on the highest au-
thority that at no stage Of the very
personal exchanges that have been in
progress has there been anything in
the nature of a protest" from the
Japanese government against what
has been done in California.
The latest instructions to the ambassa-
dor from Toxic look only to the continu-
ance by the embassy of the course it has
pursued from the beginning, of relying
upon moral suasion and dignifed pres
entation of the unfortunate impression
produced in Japan by this unexpected
recrudesence of anti-Japanese feeling on
the Pacific coast.
Would Modify Measure.
AS far as can be gathered, the admin
istration has listened with sympathetic
interest to these personal representations,
and. while without legal authority at this
moment to interfere with legislation In
California. it has not hesitated to bring
personal influence to bear to bring abou,
the modification of such features of the
proposed legislation as threaten to lead
to unjust discrimination against Japanese
citizens.
While this is the present aspect of the
exchanges that have been going on be-
tween the two governments in an un-
official manner, in the background Is the
practical certainty that if this sort of
moral suasion fails in its purpose, and
legislation which the Japanese govern
ment regards as purely violative of Japa-
nese rights is enacted at Sacramento the
negotiations will take more formal
course.
May Lead to Protest.
This would involve an analysis of the
exact meaning Of article 1 of the treaty
of 1911, under which the Japanese have
owned and leased land and houses ir
California. A radical difference on this
point might be expected to lead to q
formal protest from Japan. which in turn,
II not regarded, undoubtedly would result
in the denunciation of the whole treaty
Of trade and commerce.
A chance remark dropped from high
quarters makes it evident that the
treaty is perhaps in danger from attack
in another direction. 1t is known that
some consideration already has been
given to suggestion emanating ff9m
tuc r coast tndI lSdly, llkS any
Sta tute. is subject to the test of con-
stitutionality by the Supreme Court.
Might Be Undermined.
Consequently, II the existing treaty
of 1911, conferring the right Of free
hold and lease upon Japanese In
America, is in conflict with. a law al
ready enaceed by the state OF Cali
fornia or hereafter enacted. in pur-
suance of the legitimate exercise Of a
states power, then, instead OF being
the supreme law of the land the treaty
itself must give way to a state law. so
far as California is concerned, on the
theory that the treaty makers have in
fringed the constitutional rights Of
the state.
Questions like this. and that touching
the right of the Japanese to naturaliza-
ton in America under existing law. how
ever, are reserved for consideration in
case Of the efforts now making to secure
a satisfactory legislation in California
should fail. AS a last resort, and to re-
move the humiliation from which the
Japanese now suffer from their present
legal status. it is possible that an appeal
may be made to the national government
to amend the naturalization law, which,
If successful, would completely remove the
basis Of the Japanese plan, even though
Japanese subjects were still precluded
from owning lands in California.