The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-24
U. S. REPLIES TO- JAPAN.
BRYAN RECOUNTS EFFORTS TO
GUARD TREATY RIGHTS.
Nature OF Protest and Reply TO be
Kept Secret Understood That
While NippOn's Protest Alleges
Technical Violation of Treaty by
California Law, Weight of Objec-
ton Is Against Spirit of Whole
Legislation as Being Discrimna-
tory Against Japanese.

Legislation as Being DiScrimna-
tory Against Japanese.
Washington, May 19.-Secretary
Bryan late today handed Ambassa-
dor Chinda the reply Of the United
States government to the Japanese
protest against the California alien
land legislation. The ambassador i'm
mediately cabled it to Toxic. No inti-
nation as to the nature Of the reply
was given out.
Upon learning through press dis
patches that Governor Johnson had
signed the Webb Land Act, Secretary
Bryan telephoned Viscount Chinda
and invited him to come to- the State
department to receive the reply which
he had been anxiously awaiting since
the presentation of his note, May 8.
! When the answer had been deliver
ed. the Secretary and the ambassador
conferred earnestly for an hour re-
garding the general aspect of the prob
lem. OF course, the opinions ex-
pressed were tentative. AS for his
part the ambassador felt that he must
be guided entirely by the directions
or the foreign office at Toxic and he
could only surmise what might be the
attitude of the officials at home
Meanwhile 1t was understood that both
the Japanese protest and the State
departments answer would be with
held from publication for the present
at least on the ground that ii would
be injudicious to submit the delicate
question at issue to heated discussion
In the newspapers and at possible
mass meetings, the negotiations be-
tween the two Governments are ex-
pected to proceed in regular fashion,
without further reference to what
takes place In California.
Viscount Chinda dispatched the
state departments reply to his Gov
ernment and it is assumed nat sew
3 ~'N'' N"So ih"S eidpSe belOTe the next
step is taken.
In view of the understanding be-
tween the two Governments regarding
withholding Of the correspondence
from publicity none of the officials at
the White House, the State depart
ment or the Japanese embassy cared
10 indicate the nature of the Japan
ese objections or of Secretary Bryan's
reply. From other sources, however.
1t was gathered that while the Japan
ese allege technical violations of the
treaty of 1911 by the California law
these relate to minor provisions, such
as that prohibiting Japanese from in
heriting property in California. The
real weight Of objection is against the
spirit OF the whole legislation which
Is regarded as distinctly discrimina-
tory against the Japanese. The spir-
II or the convention as well as the
general principles of international
law are regarded by Japan as outrag-
ed by this Act. The fact that the
United States has entered into treaty
relations with Japan is cited as an
admission Of equality.
In his answer Secretary Bryan is
understood to have recounted at
length efforts made by the Admins
tration to guard against an infringe.
ment Of the treaty rights of the Jap
anese. Officials here believe that this
substantially has been accomplished
ana that at any rate. if the Japanese
government takes n contrary view, it
wi be an easy amtter for it to test
the matter In American Courts. This
Is pointed out to seem to remove the
Issue from one of treaty construction
II the Stale departments view is cor
rect. To the broad field of internation~
al law.
1t Is realized here that the japanese
Government is not much concerned
about the exclusion OF its subjects
from America, for they are much
needed In Manchuria, Corea and For
mosa. Underlying the whole objec-
tion' 1t Is said, is the intense national
PRIDE of the Japanese. which has been
touched to the quick by the general
development of Anti-Japanese feeling
on the Pacific Coast. Official circles
realize that the negotiations from this
point forward must be conducted with
extreme caution. but there is a gen
eral conviction that an amicable So
luton of the problems involved even
tually will be reached
Secretary Bryan said today he had
not communicated with Governor
Johnson since the receipt of the Gov
ernor's long message explaining his