The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-04-17
JAP BOYCOTT IS
NOW PROMISED
AMERICAN GOODS
President Wilson and Secretary
of State Bryan Hold
Early Views
CAN NOT INTERFERE
WITH STATE RIGHTS
Presence of Initiative Blocks
All Efforts at Federal
Tampering

| WASHINGTON, April 1.-the
situation growing out Of the pending
anti-alien land-owning legislation in
! California. today became one demand
| ing active attention from both the
president and Secretary OF State
Bryan.
The Japanese government has re-
newed its protest against the mea.
sure as amended in the California SEN
ate and has frankly told the admins
! tration that, While an attempt TO dis
guise has been made, the measure is
still chiefly directed against the Jap
anese. IL is expected that a formal
protest bearing the sanction of the
Toxic government will be made TO the
president through the state depart
ment as soon as ii is definitely certain
the measure will pass.
The president himself does not be-
lieve that he can take any Official ac-
ton TO prevent the passage OF the bill.
Not only has he been told that Cali
fornia sentiment Of all parties are fav-
orable TO the proposed law, but he
also has been assured that II the legis-
lature should abandon it, the people
themselves would force its enactment
by the initiative right
Secretary of State Bryan arrived az
the executive Offices almost simultane-
ously with President Wilson today.
They conferred at length on the Jap
anese attitude as expressed by the
Japanese ambassador during his con
ference with the president yesterday
afternoon II was decided that the
situation should be carefully watched,
and that IL necessary a representative
Of the state department would pro-
coed TO Sacramento so that first hand
president and Secretary Bryan at all
times
1t was learned that the president
and his chief adviser hold the right OF
the state to enact legislation is para
mount and that the federal govern
ment has no right TO interfere so long
as such legislation is not Of the class
variety The objection originally
raised to the bill now pending In
Sacramento, that It was directed sole
ly against the apanesJe and Chinese,
has been met by amending it TO in
clude all aliens.
II was understood here that already
in apaJn plans are under way for a
gigantic boycott OF American goods
should California insist upon enacting
the proposed law. President Wilson
regrets this and Is doing everything
in his power to demonstrate to japan
that the general feeling throughout
America toward that nation should
not be judged by the isolated attitude
OF any single state.
The official attitude OF this govern
ment will continue as II has, one OF
utmost friendliness toward Japan.
Reprisals, II they are to come, must
originate with Japan, and IL Is be-
lievet here that they will be entirely
in the nature OF trade boycott from
which California will suffer far mare
than any other state.
In order that he may be prepared
for any contingency which may arise.
President Wilson arranged for con-
ference to discuss the matter with
Secretary Of the Interior Lane, who Is
a Californian; Secretary OF Agricul.
ture Houston. who has extensively
studied immigration problems; Sen
ator Works. OF California. and Senator
Jones, OF Washington.
II was stated positively at the
White House that no Official declara-
ton Of policy ON this subject would
be forthcoming at the present time.