The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-20
Frantic Effort to Put Down
Angry Sentiment.
1T IS The MIKADO'S MOVE
With e. S. Answer In, Recourse
Is Awaited.
Several Days Before the Jap
anese RejOinder.

Toxic. Nav 20-The news that the
California anti-alien land ownership
bill had been signed by Governor Johh-
son was received here with regret al
though it had been discounted in OH
cial and nonofficial circles. 1t was mop
ed I'D to the last moment, however
that washington's Intervention would
prove successful.
The newspapers published extra edl-
tions with the announcement that the
bill had been signed. The efforts OIL
the Japanese government are conceh-
trated at present on pacifying OPINION
but the task is regarded in many quar-
ters as a more difficult one than at the
time of the California school contro-
versy or even a year ago.
Since the death of the old Japanese
emperor the authority of the govern
ment has steadily diminished in resist
ing the growing influence OF puplic
opinion and the spirit of democracy IS
augmenting throughout the empire.
Arthur BaiIIy- Blanchard, secretary of
the United States embassy, Vlslteu
Baron Noboaki Maxine, the japanese
foreign minister. today and reiterated
the determination of the United states
government to exert every effort IN or
der to find friendly and satisfactory
solution of the question.
He emphasized the fact that it was
California and not an American ques-
ton and thanked the japanese govern
ment for it's friendliness and for its
attempts to restrain the eXcitable public
opinion of Japan.
1t is generally believed here that
Washington will find a solution of the
problem but the more conservative ele-
ments in Japan are now echoing the
Gov Al fT1q aI1t
the Japanese. They declare that the
racial issue, which, it is contended is
involved and the steady recurrence of
anti-Japane bills in California should
receive "basic curative treatment"
A prominent official said today:
THE japanese people feel that their
national honor is involved. The pres
ent question will be solved but what is
needed to assure the permanence of our
traditional friendship is a change of
heart in some Americans toward the
japanese
How Washington Views 1t.
Washington, May 20.-With the
answer of the United States to it's
protest in hand it is now up to the
Japanese foreign office to take the
next step in the negotiations over the
California alien land act. 1t is ex-
pected the forthcoming rejoinder to
Secretary Bryan will be strongly argu-
mentative and calculated to result IN
the conduct of the future negotiations
on a strictly legal basis.
1t is understood that the state de-
partment is looking to the Japanese
government or some Japanese citizen |
to test the new law by recourse 10 |
the United States courts 1t may be
significant of the dawnng of another |
issue that the Japanese are believed |
to be reluctant to begin such a move |
ment.
In his protest of May to the state |
department the Japanese ambassador |
is understood to have made it per-
fectly clear that Japanese, finding It |
impossible to deal directly with the !
state of California was relying entire |
ly upon federal government to insure |
what he believes to be fair treatment |
for it's subjects. Probably that con- !
tentfon will be extended to cover the !
legal test of the California land law, |
though the ordinary procedure in such |
cases would be to allow a Japanese |
subject, threatened with escheatment |
cation for an injunction.
Meanwhile, it is expected that se~-
eral days will elapse before the Jap |
anese rejoinder is received in view of |
the fact that ten days were taken for |
the preparation and delivery of the |
American reply to the original protest |
President Wilson and the cabinet |
TODAY had the shortest session of the !
administration thus far. 1t lasted less
than an hour and concerned chiefly
appointments.
The cabinet deferred fuller discus |
sion of the Japanese question pend !
ing Japan's answer to the latest Amer
lean note.