Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-29
BRYAN SUGGESTS
NEW JAP TREATY
TO AVERT CRISIS
Federal Government May Take
This Step as Concession
to California.
STATE AUTHORITIES STILL
RETAIN DEFIANT ATTITUDE
Legislator Asks State Secre-
tary Whether Any Law Will
Satisfy Japan.

WASHINGTON, April 29.-Secre-
tary Bryan's proposition to the Cali
fornians to suspend the passage and
application of anti-Japanese legisla-
ton until the President has had an
opportunity to negotiate a new treaty
with Japan to replace the convention
of 1911 is believed to represent the
ultimate concession which the ad-
ministration is willing to make in def
erence to public feeling in California.
The secretarys statement that in
the event of the passage of legislation
in defiance of the Presidents advice
he would feel obliged to do everything
possible ito minimize the ill-feeling
that may be aroused" is regarded
here as marking a purpose on the
part of the government to become
an interviewer with the Japanese In
any suit which they may bring before
the federal courts to nullify the action
of the California Legislature.
Assuming that one of the questions
which Mr.. Bryan has transmitted to
the President for the California Leg
islature is as to the probable time for
negotiating a new treaty with Japan
and Just how such a convention could
be framed to meet the views of Cali
fornia without being Objectionable to
Japan, it may be said that such a
method of settling the present issue
already has been given some consider
alton.
The existing Japanese treaty was
intended to meet temporary need In
quieting the unrest on the Pacific
coast over the school question.
Neither party has been satisfied with
its workings, and it is remarkable for
its omissions, compared with otner
treaties of trade and commerce.
For instance, probably no provision
for the requirement and holding OF
land by either Americans or Japa-
nese; not even the extremely limited
Favored nation" clause covers the
usual common law right in such mat
ters, and, singular to say, there Is no
provision whatever against discrim-
ination. When Secretary Bryan start
ed for California he was aware that
there was absolutely no treaty prohi-
bition against such action as the
Californans now propose and he
must rely on their patriotism and pa
tience to assist the national govern
ment in solving the present difficulty
by diplomatic means.
President and Moore Confer.
President Wilson and John Bassett
Moore. counselor of the state depart
ment. who has devoted much atten-
ton to the consideration and defni-
ton of the rights of aliens within the
United States, were in early consul
e. than hour fOdAV.
considering the prospects of being
able to frame a new treaty satisfac-
tory to the Californians and the Jap
anese within a reasonable time.
Probably a definite answer to the
question can be given only after the
conferences have been extended to in
clude Viscount Chinda, the Japanese
ambassador here.
Senator Works. of California, to-
dav set out his views on the situation
in a prepared statement in which he
upheld the right of his State to enact
such laws as the one in question and
approved the viewpoint of the Cali
fornia legislators generally.
When the cabinet assembled. John
Bassett Moore, acting secretary of
State. was invited by the President to
sit in the place of Mr.. Bryan.
1t is a rare occa sion when an acting
head of a department sits with the
cabinet, and usually he Is sent for
only for a brief period, while the bus
mess of his department is considered
Mr.. Moore stayed virtually through
out the cabinet meeting, which was
taken as an indication that the Japa
nese question took up almost the en-
tire time of the President and his
advisers
SACRAMENTO, Cal, April 2s.-
With the sentiment of the progress
sive Republican majority towards
anti-alien land legislation virtually
unchanged by the representa- tions
made yesterday by Secretary of State
w. j. Bryan on behalf of president
Wilson. the California Legislature
faced today a second broadside of ar
gument from the head of the state
department.
What form the objections of the
federal administration would take
was not known early today, for Sec
retary Bryan had not made publies
the contents of his telegram from
President Wilson. received in answer
to the question propounded by the
secretary after the close of the con-
ference last evening.
Bryan Declines to Make Statement.
Since his arrival yesterday morn
ing, the secretary of state has de-
clined to make any statement except
IL conference with the governor and
,,oar,tars of the legislature and II