The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-05-15
WILSON BELIEVES
NIPPON Will NOT
STIR Up TROUBLE
California Governor Expected
to Announce Purpose Soon
Law, If Adopted Will Be
Tested Without Delay.

son, believes negotiations between
Japan and the United States over the
alien Ian legislation in California are
not IN an alarming state, but that the
interchange Of views nus fcr has been
along frank n friendly lines calcu-
lated to remove the appearance of dis
elimination against the japanese sub
jects.
The president discussing the subject
informally today took the position that
the Webb bill would not violate the
treaty between Japan and the United
States. He intimated that Japan's pro-
test was not founded on a claim that
the treaty would be broke in anyway,
but upon the feeling that there was,
an effort to discriminate against the
japanese on the ground of their alleged
lnehglbll1ty to the citizenship.
Basis of Protest.
The president revealed that the
question of naturalization had not yet
entered the discussion with the Japan
csc ambassador, but that Of course
under lying the hill, it was realized
that the federal courts had not finally
passed upon the question of eligibility.
1t was upon the basis that Japanese
We're not accorded the privileges Of
citizenship that the appearance of dis
WIllleu IN the Dill naQ
arisen n it was intimated at the
White House that for the present the
hope was that the legislation in Calf
ornla either would be vetoed by Gov
ernor n or delayed by a refer
endum to the purpose of smoothing
some Of the features of the situation.
Frankness Prevails.
President Wilson endeavored to make
1t plain that the greatest frankness
had prevailed between the two govern
ments, even to the abandonment of
many diplomatic ~formalities. The con-
Bryan or President Wilson and the
Japanese ambassador were described
as those Of one gentleman to another.
limitations that the Japanese protest
itself, was couched neither In vigorous
nor aggressive language, but was for
NAL and friendly in character, came
from the president himself, during his
talk today and it was pointed out that
the phrase "a very earnest protest.
employed by Secretary Bryan in his
message to Governor Johnson was the
description Of the note which the
American government had entertained
rather than the emphasis of the Japan
ese ambassador.
The president was disposed to talk
freely on the subject and appeared
confident that a satisfactory arrange
ment would be accomplished.
Secretary Bryan's statement, which
was framed after a conference with the
president, was dispatched last night
and made public at the White House a
few minutes later. 1t was as follows:
The president directs me to express
his appreciation of you courtesy in de-
laying action on the land bill now be-
fore you until it's provisions could be
communicated to he Japanese govern
ment. His excellency, Baron Chinda,
on BEHALF of his government, has pre-
sented an earnest protest against the
measure. AS you have before you but
two alternatives, viz: to approve or to
veto, 1t will avail nothing to recall to
you attention the amendments sug-
gested to the legislature, and as the
president has already laid before you
his views upon the subject it is un-
necessary to reiterate them.
HE passed over questions affecting
treaty rights for two reasons, first, be-
cause the bill passed by the legislature
is avowedly intended to conform to
treaty obligations and, second, because
any conflict complained of would be a
matter for the courts. But the presi-
dent feels justified in expressing again
his desire that action on the subject be
deferred for this session and he ex-
presses the desire the more freely be-
cause the legislature can be recon-
vened at any time if the welfare to
the state requires it. He is fully alive
to the Importance Of removing any root
of discord which may create a%ntagon-
ism betWeen American CltlZenS and the
subjects of orienta 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 diplomatic eff
forts. The nations affected by the pro-
posed law are friendly nations-nations
tina have shown themselves willing to
cooperate in the establishment of har-
monious relations between their people
and ours.
IF a postponement commends itself
to your judgment, the president will be
pleased to cooperate in a systematic
effort to discover and correct any evils
that may exist in connection with land
ownership by aliens"
The decision of the administration to
urge Governor Johnson to use his
power of veto to postpone any land
legislation was reached after a series
of conferences between the president,
Secretary Bryan and John Bassett
Moore, counsellor of the state depart
ment, and frequent calls by Ambassa-
dor Chinda.
STRONG PRESSURE BROUGHT
TO BEAR TO DEFEAT BILL
Washington, May 13.-The fact that
Secretary Bryan has addressed an APP
peal to Governor Johnson. OF Califor-
mia. to veto the a~nti-alien bill inasmuch
as the governor had, unofficially at
least, repeatedly declared his purpose
IN sign the bill as it passed the legis-