Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-04-12
Expresses Confidence That
California Legislature Cog
infant of Possible CompIica
tions, viii be Careful
LAND NOT MENTIONED
IN EXISTING TREATY
However, Agreement Does
Guarantee That Mikado's
Subjects Shall be Treated
as Those Of Favored Nations,

nv Morning Journal special fensed WlreO
Washington. AprH President
Wilson expressed today the hope that
the pending legislation ln California
by which aliens inehslblc to Amerl-
can citizenship would be prohibited
from owning land would net prove
Objectionable to Japan. He realizes
that Japan is inclined 10 view such
legislation as contradiction of the
spirit of her treaty with the Emitted
states and. while officially unable 90
interfere ia the situation. hc express
"a confidence that tho California leg-
iaiuiurc cogui2ant of possible Inter-
national difficulties. would enact % law
that would prove acceptable to japan.
The president talked informally
about the question tn his semi weekly
conference with Che newspaper mon.
Indicating the delicate points involved.
While the present treaty with Japan
stipulates that citizens ot each coun-
try. while travelling in the other shall
have q right Go own houses ana face
tories and shops and TO lease land. it
SAYS nothing ahout the right 90 own
land ON the other hand. though the
old laws Of Japan against foreign
ownership of land have been abrusat-
cd. the imperial odict necessary to put
In force newly enacted laws, has not
been issued so that American citizens
cannot own land iu Japan
While the abstraction does NOT
constlue the troa 3s giving Japanese
specifically the right 60 own land. i
feels that the agreement does euaan-
tee that japanese shall bee treated on
the basis of most favored nation con-
ditions. under the same clause as is
contained in MANY American treaties
with other governments.
The president stated that while the
points had been discussed, the diff
culties really proceeded from the do
mcstic constitutional ARRANGEMENTS In
the United states. He declared that
while nobody for a moment would
challenge the constitutional right of
California 10 pass such land laws as
she pleased. insofar as the federal gov
ernment had gone beyond its powers
or domestic authority in making n
treaty. just SO far was it liable to
damage but that it really was help
less in the situation.
The president explained that the
Japanese ambassador had acted I'm Ia
most proper and delightful" manner.
treating the United States as "a friend
Of Japan, who would wish to see the
best relations prevail The japanese
ambassador understood the principle
Of states rights as applied In the
United states. hut asked that the fed
eral government look into the leeis-
lation to sec if anything could be done
to make IL acceptable 10 his country.
Mr. Wilson declared that with this
spirit the federal government had en-
deavored informally to use it's good
offices to secure an amicable adjust
mont Of the question
Reassurine word that the Galifor-
mia legislature would SO frame its laws
So as to save the federal government
from amy diplomatic embarrassments
have come indirectly 70 the national
capital and the administration does
not believe 1t is likely to be confront-
ed with ANY serious situation.