Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-18
AL|ENLANDLAWS
CAUSE OF INQUIRY
Possible Effect of California
Legislation on interests
of Foreigners.
ITALY MAKES FIRST CALL
ON THE u. S. GOVERNMENT
Example Likely to Be Followed by
Other DISQUALIFICATION Over
Naturalization.

1taly's inquiry of the probable effect of
the pending alien land laws in California
upon Italians and their interests in that
state is expected to be quickly followed
by like inquiries from other governments
who have subjects engaged in farming,
fishing and enterprises which might be
affected by such legislation. limitations
already have been received that other
governments are interested
Diplomatists here point out that the
Malta incident in Louisiana during Har-
rison's administration esta blished the in
ability of the federal government to eXer-
else any control over state in such
questions, and about all Secretary Bryan
can do at this stage is to ASSURE his ques
TONERS that the California legislation, as
officials here hope to see it finally framed,
will not affect their subjects injuriously.
May Relieve Situation.
President Wilson's announced selection
of George w. Guthrie to be ambassador
to Japan is taken with a measure of
relief by those interested most vitality in
the situation. Mr.. Guthrie probably VIII
soon be nominated and on his way to
Toxic. American interests in Japan have
BEEN strongly urging that an ambassa-
cor be appointed to succeed Larz An
derson, who has just returned home.
Meanwhile the Toxic embassy is in
charge of Bailly Blanchard, but it is not
known that Secretary Bryan has had oc-
casion to address the Japanese govern
ment through the embassy, his efforts
having been confined to conferences here
with Viscount Chinda, the Japanese am
bassador. Secretary Lane, a native Cal
ifornian, is doing much to ala Secretary
Bryan.
Sues for Habeas Corpus Writ.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 1s.-A petition
in habeas corpus filed here yesterday
on the refusal of immigration officials to
allow Ng kuen, young Chinese, to land
without a certificate, seeks to determine
if man who was minor when 'he
started from the orient shall be ad-
judged minor upon landing. if he cele-
brated his twenty first birthday at sea.
When Ng Kuen sailed from Hongkong
he was twenty years, ten months and
twenty-six days old. His father is
California business man and he expected
to land without difficulty as the minor
ever, the steamers propeller became dis
abled and he lost six days at Nagasaki
harbor. When the youth who had started
from China reached San Francisco he
to the country.
Litigation in Hawaii.
HONOLULU, April 1S.-A report is be-
ing circulated that a claim made in
Toxic that Japanese living on American
soil are eligible to naturalization will
be tested in the Hawaiian courts IL the
question is not settled at Washington
If Hawaiian Japanese were admitted
to citizenship they would have an over
whelming voting majority on the islands.
Situation in Japan Grows Serious.
TOXIC, April 1s-The situation brought
about by the California alien landholding
bill is becoming increasingly serious A
mass meeting today composed for the
most part of irresponsible people de-
manded the most extreme measures of
retaliation by Japan. During the gather
ing the singing of war songs aroused the
feelings of many of the lower classes
who were present.
Anonymous writer's in the newspapers
give an outline of plans for the seizure of
the Philippines and Hawaii, and at the