The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-24
AMERICAN REPLY TO JAPAN'S
PROTESTS RECEIVED IN GOOD
SPIRIT By JAPANESE.
Island Empire Realizes Difficulty
United States Government Has in
Dealing with SituatiOn-WiisOn
Praises PrOgresiveness Of Japan.

Washington, May 21.-Reassuring
advices reached the state department
from Japan late today indicating that
the American reply to the protest
against the California land law was
received in good spirit by the Tokyo
government and the situation had
taken on much more favorable ap-
pearance than at any time since ne
gotiatiOns began. Officials here admit
ted their satisfaction over the turn
of events.
The dispatches related also that
the japanese government realized full
ly the difficulties under which the
Washington administration had labor
ed in handling this situation, under
standing the dual system of govern
ment in the United States and the
powers of legislation held by Califor-
MIA. ....
TOday's advices were of a prelim-
mary character and made no predic-
ton of ensuing steps, but in general
they reflected n favorable view in
Tokyo of the American note replying
to Japan's protest.
President Wilson, who had no small
part in the writing of the note, is
said to have described in most COM
plimentary terms what he believed to
be the real feeling Of the majority of
the American people toward Japan.
The communication 1T is said, pointed
to California and only q part of Cal
ifornia, too, as having given evidence
of discriminatory disposition and
insisted that the United States az q
whole admired the progress that ia
pan had made in the last half cen
tury, respected the achievements Of
the Japanese people and was sincerely
anxious to show that it regarded ia
pan on a basis Of equality with all
other powers and nations
The note was about 1000 words
long and dealt chiefly with the spirit
Of the American people toward ia
pan. making littleireference, it is un-
derstood, to the ,technicalities Of the
new law or the,Ftreaty but discuss
ing Japan's contention that the Cali
fornia agitation waspin reality an act
of unfriendliness and discrimination
against the Japanese.
! Officials here were not in the least
opposed to publication of the docu-
ment but decision on this point was
left with the Tokyo government.
| While the situation tonight was re-
garded as satisfactory in official
quarters, the japanese answer is
awaited with keen. interest Officials
generally. however, We're inclined 10
hope that the acute stage in the ne
gotiations had passed.
The president. realizing that
speeches in congress at this time
might embarrass the situation, re-
4
Mississippi. who had announced his
intention Of speaking on Friday on
the alien land question, to handle as
delicately as possible diplomatic
phases of the case.
Mr.. Sisson, who recently made a
war speech" had recently given no.
tice of his intention to speak in the
mouse Friday on the legal phases Of
the japanese alien land question. He
mad a 70 minutes conference with the
president during which, however, ne
assured Mr.. Wilson that he would not
discuss the pending negotiations or
touch on anything Of an incendiary
character, limiting himself to an argu-
ment on alien land ownership.
That was the White House version
OF the conference, though Mr.. Sisson
himself declined to make any COM
ment, declaring merely that he would
speak Friday.
The president is known to be anx-
lous about discussion in congress at
this stage of the Japanese question.
especially involving any observations
on racial discrimination.
GOVERNMENT STUDIES REPIy
Japanese Public Awaits OfficiaI State.