The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-05-15
PRESIDENT AND
BRYAN TO REPLY
TO JAP PROTEST
Wilson Will Confer With
Secretary Of State EARLY
Tomorrow Morning.
NO. DEVELOPMENTS
FOR ANOTHER WEEK
Governor johnson Communicated His
Determination to Sign the Bill
His Message Goes into Detail-Says
California is Not Violating Treaty.
Japan opt. State M.

Japan opt, State Ill.,.
Toxic, May 15.-The So
office Is optimistic concerning t,.~
outcome Of the controversy over
the California alien land owner
ship legislation. High officials
said the negotiations between the :
United States and Japan are pro-
crossing satisfactorily and
=, friendly and permanent solution
OF the difficulty is expected.
Washington. May! 15.-President
Wilson arranged to confer with Secre-
tary Bryan early tomorrow before the
cabinet meeting to draft reply to the
formal protest by Japan against the
California anti-alien land bill. which
Governor johnson yesterday announc-
ed he would sign.
cabinet and then delivered to the
Japanese ambassador. The indica-
tions of the attitude of the federal
government toward the legislation IT.
self. as we'll as the question Of dis
elimination raised by Japan will be
fully defined.
The governors decision to sign the
bill despite Japan's protests unofficial
~ was communicated to Viscount
Chtnda, the Japanese ambassador, as
a matter of information.
When the ambassador receives
Bryans formal communication it will
be necessary for him to communicate
ceive instructions for preparing a re-
Jotnder. So probably a week will
elapse before the negotiations move
another step.
The fact that. though announcing
his intention to sign the act, johnson
has not actually affixed his signature.
IS regarded here as an act OF courtesy.
intended to hold the door open to the
last word from the administrations.
Is "Gravc Problcm."
In opening his message. Governor
Johnson devotes considerable space to}
the grave problem" that has cons
fronted California for many years,
stating that 1t is little understood in
the east. He also says that the Cali
fornia constitution. adopted over thir-,
t2 years ago declares the |.npesences
OF foreigners ineligible to citizenship
%eilsene e aaaSsT9Ss ana s tS stIhs hs
lature shall discourage their immigra-.
ton by all means within it's power.''
He declares the problem has ap-
peared in new form during the past
few years and that permanent action
with reference to the invasion of agri-
Cultural AdNUS UcCdIne imperative.
He discusses the treaty relations
and declares that the bill is not vio-
lation. AS to discrimination, he says
that California is the state being
'discriminated against" Continuing.
he says:
Treaties Part OF Law.
1--WE have made existing treaties a
part of our law and thus have we
preserved every right that any foreign
nation. by international contract has
insisted upon preserving with our ma
tional government.
THE treaty Of 1911 with Japan. in
reference to the citizens and subjects
of each country. provides that they
shall have liberty to own. or lease. or
occupy houses. manufacturers, ware.
houses and shops; to employ agents
of their choice; to lease land for reg
tdential and commercial purposes and
generally to do anything incident to
or necessary for trade upon the same
terms as native citizens or subjects.
submitting themselves to the laws and
regulations there established.
I'VE assume that the right Of ia.
panese to own real property for the
purposes described is absolute in our
state. and we seek to deal only with
our agricultural lands. We embody
the treaty in our law and we add to it
permission to lease our agricultural
lands for the period Of three years.
Ought to Be Annexed.
Where such extraordinary care has
been exercised to preserve honor and
good faith, in the very words Of the
contract made by the protesting ma
ton with our own and to do more by
authorizing leases Of agricultural
lands. 1t would seem that We ought not
to he omen sfo anv accnoo fiov, 80
ton Of treaty rights. or desire to en-.
trench upon that which belongs alone
to the national government, or which
might become matter of internation-
al policy.
BY the law adopted we offer no Of
tense: we make no discrimination. The
onense and discrimination, 1t is claim
ed. in the use of the words Eligible to
citizenship. >and in making distinc-
tion between those who are eligible
to citizenship and those who are not
We do not mention the Japanese race
The constitution Of California. in 1873
made It's distinction. and there never
has been protest or objection.
"The naturalization laws of the
United States, long since, without de-
muir from any nation, determined who
were and who were not eligible to cit
izenship. If invidious discrimination
ever were made in this regard, the
united states MADE It when the United
States declared who were and who
were not eligible to citixenship; and
when we but follow and depend upon
the statutes of the United States and
their determination as to eligibility to
citizenship. we cannot be accused Of
indulging In invidious discrimination.
May I venture to call your attention
to the immigration law now pending
in congress, which passed both houses
Of the last congress. where apparent
~ certain classes. who shall be ex>
cluded from our country. are describ.
ed az persons who cannot become
eligible under existing laws to become
citizens Of the United States
'At this very moment the national
legislature. without protest-indeetf
It is published in California by express
consents using the terms that are
claimed in California's law to be of
fensive and discriminatory.
Other States Have Done Same.
"At least three states In the union
have. In the past, enacted. laws sim
liar to the contemplated law OF Cali.
fornia. and the enactments OF those,
Continued on pags, III 1