New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-13
President Has Decided That
Anti-AIien Land Bill Scru-
puIousIy Respects
1911 Treaty.
ISSUE CLEARLY DEFINED
Arbitration Convention Is Con-
sequently Tokio's Only Re-
sort if Johnson Per-
sists in Signing
Measure.
(From The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington May IA clearly de-
fined issue ,etween the governments OF
The United States and Japan over the
Interpretation of the co ~lmercial treaty
between the nations with respect TO it's
relation TO the Webb Bloodgood bill,
passed by the California Legislature.
seems certs.in TO develop in view Of The
opinion expressed by President Wilson
to-day that the purposed Objectionable
law is scrupulous in observing the
treaty obligations of the United States.
AS already outlined i'm The Tribune.
the japanese government, through
Ambassador -hinda. has represented 10
! the Department of State i'm forma!
protest that the California legislation
violated the treaty and Inundated the
japanese people.
II is obvious, therefore, that il diplo-
macy fails to adjust the difference OF
| opinion as to the construction Of tho
treaty, Japan's only resort is to The
Hague, under the provisions Of the ar.
! bitraton convention, which expires by
limitation on August "a next.
President Wilson and his advisers
learned with surprise through The
Tribune to-day that the arbitration
convention ith Japan expired in less
J than four months. To that fact they
/ now attribute much of the anxiety OF
/ japan for expedition in the diplomatic
negotiations.
Urgency Explained.
Il may be asserted authortatively
that the Japanese government has had
in mind from the outset the fact that
the convention will expire comparative
ly soon, and that If the California cues
ton is to be arbitrated haste must at
tend the negotiations.
Some competent authorities in the
State Department do not share the
Presidents opinion that the Webb
Bloodgood bill does not contravene the
commercial treaty with Japan. so II is
not impossible tl,t the Chief Execu-
tive's view nay be -ubject to revision.
OF course. a definite line Of action las
not yet been outlined by the admins
tration, and decisive steps will not be
taken until the bill becomes law, but
the present situation is that President
Wilson disagrees with Ambassador
Chinda on the question of whether the
treaty obligations OF the United States
would be violated by the enforcement
] H. Tol;.or,,fo too,foIatfap
President Wilson and Secretary
! Bryan regard the situation as grave. al
thouqh the word Serious" is Stunned
by both.
Earnest" is the term applied by Mr..
Bryan in charscterizing the Japanese
protest, but there are reasons to be-
Iieve that the administration regards
the situation with concern.
Citizenship Not Direct Issue.
The President made it plain to-day
that the question of denial by ihe
| United states of the right OF naturali-
nation TO the japanese had not been
raised by Ambassador Chinds He
maintained. however, that in his opn-
| ion the Webb Bloodgood bill was not
violation of the treaty, as the measure
was based on the treaty and explicitly
granted TO present resdents-althougl
they were not eligible TO citizenship
all the rights granted to them by
treaty.
There is much speculation in dipio-
matte circles as to what steps can or
will be taken by the national govern
ment TO block the enforcement of The
law after Governor Johnson signs the
bill. providing, of course he approve,
! the measure, as is expected here. Ia
view of the Presidents expressed opin-
ion that tie bill does not violate the
treaty, il is not believed that the ai-
ministration could gracefully institute.
judicial action-that is. for instance,
ask an injunction from a federal court
TO stay the enforcement Of the law
pending a determination of its cons,i-
tutionality by the Supreme Court II
the United States.
The hope Of preventing the law from
becoming effective as result OF the
referendum plan still prevails strongest
in administration circles, although, as
pointed out in The Tribune, tho Japan
ese government is averse to any course
which would prolong the dispute be-
yond tho life Of tho existing arbitration
convention. Thus, whatever the ma.
tionaI government. does, must be done
romotIy and with the prospect Of early
results IL tho Japanese government .is
to be satisfied.
Soon Made Public.
IL is probable that the text of the
Japanese protest will be made public
within a few days. Arrangements are
now being made to make the documeIt
public simultaneously In Toxic and
Washington. The consent of both gov
ernments must be obtained before such
a course Is adopted. and President Nn-
son has practically agreed to the sug-
gestion.
President Wilson was disposed Ia
talk freely Of the subject to-day ami
appeared confident that satisfactory
adjustment would be accomplished. Hs