The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-05-16
PLEA TO JOHNSON
asked to Await Diplomatic AC-
ton on Land Bill
WILSON IN PERSONAL APPEAL

Telegram Signed by Secretary of State
Bryan and Approved by the Presi-
dent is Not Expected to Have Any
Effect Upon Governor Johnson
Why 1t Was Sent.
Through the secretary of state. Will
Jam j. Bryan, President Wilson
appealed to Governor Johnson to post
bill passed by the California legisla-
ture.
The president seeks delay avowedIy
20 gain time for diplomatic effort"
If granted, he pledges himself to CO.
operate with California in a system
attic endeavor ito discover and correct
any evils that may exist in conIec-
ton with land ownership by Aliens"
The telegram signed by Mr. Bryan
and approved by the president is not
expected, even by administration Of
fcials, to have any effect upon Gov
ernor JohnsOn's decision to sign the
bill. 1t was sent for the purpose of
placing upon the California executive
the responsibility for the unfortunate
situation in the relations of the
United States and Japan, which the
enactment of the law will precipitate.
Avoid Reference to Treaty
The president does not say that the
&c of
existing between the United States
and Japan. Indeed, he and the Sec
rotary of state ostentatiously avoid
expressing any opinion on this point
They pass over it, first, because the
bill is avowedly intended to conform
to treaty obligations, and, second, be-
C1use any conflict complained of
would be matter for the courts.
At the same time the seriousness of
the Japanese protest, as we'll as
similar protest received from the
Chinese government, forces the presi-
dent to ask for time
Text of Bryan Telegram
Here is Secretary Bryan's telegram
to Governor Johnson:
Hon. Hiram w. Johnson,
Governor, Sacramento, Cal
'The president directs me to ex-
press his appreciation of your court
esy in delaying action on the land
bill now before you until it's pro-
visions could be communicated to the
Japanese government and considered
by it.
"His Excellency, Baron Chinda, on
behalf of his government presented
an earnest protest against the meas
ure. AS you have before you but two
alternatives, viz: To approve or to
veto, it will avail nothing to recall to
your attention the amendments sug-
gested to the legislature; and as the
president has already laid before
you his views upon the subject, it is
unnecessary to reiterate them. He
passes over the question affecting
treaty rights for two reasons: First,
because the bill passed by the legis-
lature is avowedly intended to con-
form to treaty obligations, and, sec
ond, because any conflict complained
Oh would De a. matter Tor the courts,
but the president feels justified in
expressing again his desire that &C.
ton on the subject be deferred for
this session and he expressed the de-
sire the more freely because the leg
islature can be reconvened at any
time if the welfare of the state re-
quires it. He is fully alive to the
Importance of removing any root of
discord which may create antagonism
between American citizens and the
subjects of Oriental nations residing
here, but he is impelled by a sense of
duty to express the hope that you
will see fit to allow time for diplo-
matte effort. The natoins as affected |
by the proposed law are friendly ma |
nations that have shown them |
selves willing to cooperate in the es-
tablishment of harmonious relations /
between their people and ours.
eff a postponement commends it. |
self to your judgment, the president |
will be pleased to cooperate in sys-
tematic effort to discover and correct
any evils that may exist in connec-
ton with land ownership by aliens