New-York tribune., 1913-07-30
JAPAN SOON To TAKE
MORE BRUSQUE TONE
State Department Mistaken in
Conviction That Toxic Has
Been SiIenCed.
COURTS FOR INDIVIDUALS
Foreign Office Itself, It Is Be.
lievod, Will Demand That
United States Prevent
Law Being Enforced.
From The Tribune Bureau

iFrom inc Trlbunc Bureau.
Washington, July 29.-It may be as
sert d on the highest authority that the
Department of State is lulling itself
into unwarranted security in its ex-
pressed conviction that its last reply TO
japan finally disposed of the Cali
fornia alien land case and that nothing
further will be heard from Toxic
Japan will make positive and definite
representations TO the United States re-
garding the California anti-alien land
ownership law before that measure be-
comes effective, on August 10, all re-
ports 10 the contrary notwithstanding.
There is a Strong proba bility that in
dividual Japanese in California will
begin injunction proceedings against
the Attorney General of the state TO
prevent the enforcement of the law and
to test its constitutionality. The sug-
gestiOn Of such action came from the
Secretary Of State, but Japan, none the
less, will not consider the move as ter
minating the diplomatic negotiations
or in any sense meeting its contentious
that the Webb Bloodgood act violates
the commercial treaty Of 1911 and that
unless an agreement as to the meaning
OF that treaty can be reached the con-
troversy should be settled by arbitra-
ton.
The Foreign Office at Toxic still in
sists that the California law still vio-
lates the treaty and is discriminatory
against the Japanese. With equal in
sistence Secretary Bryan contends that
the law meets all treaty obligations.
This is the diploma ic issue between
the two nations, which judicial action
will not suffice 10 remove, according 10
those we'll versed on the situation.
Information has been received here
that japanese are organizing in Cali
fornia 10 defeat the law, not only 10 at
tack its validity but also 10 evade its
essential provisions, providing the
courts hold il valid. Nearly fifty cor
porations are in the course Of organ
ization, the plan being for these cor
porations to acquire and hold land for
the Leneft of japanese individuals.
The theory is that land owned by Jap
anese can be held practically indeti-
nitely by havil.g the title thereto vested
in a corporation.
The Webb Bloodgood act aimed 10
prevent the ownership by Japanese as
sociations or corporations, and Section
8 of the MEASURE practically prohibits
such ownership by providing that
where a majority Of the stockholders or
members are aliens ineligible TO citizen
ship the same prohibitions as apply to
| individuals shall obtain.
I II is understood, however. that. while
the corporations will be so formed as 70
come within the law, they will at the
same time accomplish the desired pur-
pose. The expectation here is that
| these corporations will result in much
litigation. and perhaps be the means Of
testing the law in the courts.
Just what representations Japan VIII
make within the next few days is con-
jectural, but the belief is that a de-
mand will be made that the United
States take action TO prevent the en-
forcemeL. Of the W. That the Presi-
dent and Secretary Bryan will listen 10
such a proposition is not deemed re-
motely possible in view OF their state
rights" views and their contention that
the law does not violate the treaty with
| Japan.