The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-05-12
SECRETARY BRYAN SENDS CALL
FoRNIA GOVERNOR MESSAGE
SUNDAY NIGHT.
POSTPONEMENT IS DESIRED
Time Wanted for Diplomatic Effort to
e Adjust Differences Arising Between
Japan and U. s.-Johnson Will
Formulate Reply Probably Today.

Washington, May 12.-The Federal
governments final effort to delay alien
land owning legislation in California
was made last night when Secretary
Bryan, in the name of President Will
son, telegraphed Gov. Johnson notify
ing him that the Japanese ambassador
had protested earnestly against the
bill passed by the California Assembly
and urging that the Governor postpone
action by Withholding his signature.
Secretary Bryans telegram, which
was framed after conference with
the President Saturday, was dispatch
ed last night, and made public at the
White House a few minutes later. 1t
was as follows:
"The President directs me to ex-
press his appreciation of your cour-
bCoy III uCldy ing dCIlUu Ou IHS ldHu Dlll
now before you until it's provisions
could be communicated to the Japa-
nese government and considered by it.
"IIis excellency, Baron Chinda, has,
on behalf of his government present
ed an earnest protest against the
measure. AS you have before you but
two alternatives, viz: To approve or
veto, it will avail nothing to recall to
your attention the amendments sug
gested to the Legislature; and as the
President has laid before you his
views upon the subject it is unneces
sary to reiterate them. He passes over
questions affecting treaty rights for
two reasons, first, because the bill
passed by the Legislature is avowedly
intended to conform to treaty obliga-
tions, and second, because any con-
flict complained of would be a matter
for the courts, but the President feels
justified in expressing again his desire
that action on the subject be deferred
for this session and he expresses the
desire the more freely because the
Legislature can be reconvened at any
time if the welfare of the state re-
quires it. He is fully alive to the i'm
portance of removing any root of dis
cord which may create antagonism be-
tween American citizens and the sub
jects of Oriental nations residing here,
but he is impelled by a sense Of duty
to express the hope that you will see
at to allow time for diplomatic effort.
The nations affected by the proposed
law are friendly nations-nations that
have shown themselves willing to CO.
operate in the establishment of har-
monious relations between their peo-
pie 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 Gov. johnson to use his power
of veto to postpone any land legisla-
ton was reached after series of con-
ferences between the President, Sec
retary Bryan and John Bassett Moore,
counsellor of the State Department,
and frequent calls at the department
by Ambassador Chinda. 1t was recog-
nized that any further attempt to have
the bill enacted by the California Leg.
islature amended would be fruitless,
since Secretary Bryan's trip to Sacra-
mento was unavailing and the Leg
1ature is to adjourn Tuesday.