The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-22
Attitude of United States Il
Considered Uncertain.
THEY FEAR The REFERENDUM
MikadO Not Anxious for Vote
on Alien Bill.
JapS Wonder IL e. s. Will Try
to Nullify Act.

| United States to the Japanese protest
in regard to the California alien land
| ownership legislation in saying that II
| does not involve any violation of the
| treaty between the United States and
| Japan, has caused great disappoint-
ment in official and other circles here.
The japanese foreign office considers
| it unsatisfactory it does not mem
ton any intention on the part of the
/ government at Washington to take oth-
cial steps to nullify the act passed by
| the California legislature.
The japanese foreign minister is urg-
ing upon ViScount Chinda, Japanese
ambassador at Washington, the neces-
! sity of pressing the Japanese interpre-
| tatiOn of the American-JapaneSe treaty.
| Secretary of State Bryan's proposal
to refer the question to a referendum
i in the state of California is not receive
| ed with favor here as the result Is
| considered doubtful.
No Ground for Complaint.
Washington, May 2Z-The basis of
the state departments contention that
the California alien land act does not
in terms violate the treaty of 1911 was
a careful scrutiny by all the lawyers
of the cabinet of the language of the
law and the treaty.
Save upon the single point that in
depriving Japanese in California of
they concluded there was no ground
for complaint.
And in view of the expressed declara-
ton in the Webb law that it was not
to be construed as abrogating any
treaty provision, which thereby appear
ed to assure the Japanese against un-
lawful escheatment of their property,
it was felt that the national govern
ment would do nothing less than admit
that the trainers of the Webb act
seemed to have succeeded in their pur-
pose to make it proof against attacks
in the courts.
Officials gather from the Toxic dis
patches that the negotiations are drift
ing into the stage of pure disputation,
where the international lawyers on
both sides will have ample opportunity
to exercise their full resources in de-
termining the exact relation between
the California law and the treaty of
1911. Some expect that the result will
be an invocation by the Japanese gov
ernment of the right of arbitration
guaranteed by the special treaty Of
1908.
VIII Spend 100000 at Fair.
Toxic, May 22.-The committee of
the Japan parliament today made a
favorable report on the proposed ap-
preparation of 100000 for the repre-
sentation of Japan at the Panama
Pacific exhibition to be held at San
Francisco in 1915.
Laughs at War Talk.
Toxic, May 22.-The war talk ema-
mating from Europe and reaching here
by cable regarding the controversy
between Japan and the United States
on the land ownership question is not
understood in official and other circles
here. The atmosphere is calm and
great reserve is shown. Some of the
newspapers have begun to speak out
more freely. The leading daily. the
Osaka Manishi. finds amusement in
what it calls the. American fear of
japanese aggression. 1t says:
"All Japan wants for the Japan
is equal treatment with white men.
Japan's progress has reached the point
where she will no longer consent to
discrimination. being shown against |
her subjects"
American Japs in Mass Meeting.
San Francisco, Cal, May 22.-Cool- |
headedneSS and moderation were |
urged on the japanese residents of
California at a mass meeting here last |
night by Soroku Ebara, member of the
house of peers and of the governm ent |
party, who is one of commission to |
this state to investigate the japanese
land holding controversy.
The venerable statesman pointed out |
that it was the unanimous desire of the |
people of his country to reach a satis- |
factory settlement of the difficulty and |
it is considered undoubtedly will be ac- |
by peaceabIe means. The |
relation between the two countries, |
he said, has been such as to preclude |
the possibility of any but an amicable |
settlement.
1.-The whole of Japan-the govern |
ment, the political parties, and the |
commercial bodies-is unanimously en-
deavoring," he said ito solve this |
California question peacefully. And it |
seems to me the Japanese is fully |
competent to settle this difficulty sat |
isfactorily There is absolutely no need |
for you to pack up your things to |
go back to Japan in fear of something |
happening.
California is only one part of this |
great country after all. Fortunately
for you, you have the sympathy of |
the federal government and a greater |
part of the citizens of this country |
Even in California you have a great |
many supporters and sympathizers.
'I have always admired the Ameri- |
can people for their greatness-for |
their sense of justice and fair play. |
With these qualities in mind, you must |
wait patiently. Attend to your work |
and business just as usual
You're now as though on ship on a /
stormy sea. But the captain is COM
manding the ship. Trust your destiny |
to him The ship cannot be directed |
by everybody
Like Barbarism, Says London.
London, May 22.-The Daily Mail !
in an editorial today says:
'The California land law treats the
Japanese as if they were semi-bar-
barous Asiatic undesirables whose
presence only in a white community is |
morally, physically and economically /
them to fury and in their anger they !