Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-04-13
President Wilson Has Had One
Friendly Interview with ViS-
count Chinda and is Likely
To Have Others,
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
ARE NOT ANTICIPATED
Should California Legislature
Pass Objectionable Alien
Land Bill, Question Would be
Up to Courts,

IN, Morning journal Special Leased wire.l
washington, April 12.-President
wilson has held one conference so
far with Viscount Chinda, the Japan
ese ambassador and probably will
haye others in the near future, IN
Wow of the ambassadors latest in
struotions regarding the California
alien nnd-holding legislation. II may
be stated on the highest authority
Chat at no stage of the very personal
exchanges that have been in progress
bas there been anything in the ma
lure of a protest from the japanese
government against what has been
done i'm California.
The latest Instructions 10 the am
hassador from Toxic look only to the
continuance by the embassy of the
course it has pursued from the be-
ginning. of relying upon moral sua-
sion and dignified presentation Of
the unfortunate impression pro-
duced In Japan by this unexpected
recrudescence of anti-Japanese feel
ing on the Pacific coast
As far as can be gathered, the ad-
ministration has listened with sym
pathetic interest 20 these personal
representations. and while without
legal authority at this moment TO in
terfere with legislation in California.
il has not hesitated to bring personal
Influence TO bear 10 bring about the
modification of such features Of the
proposed legislation as threaten to
lead TO unjust discrimination against
Japanese citisens. While sooh S tbs
present aspect Of the exchanges that
have been going on between the two
governments In an unofficial manner
in the background IS the practical
certainty that If this sort Of moral
slasion fails in its purpose and legis-
laton which the japanese govern
ment regards as purely violative of
japanese rights is enacted at Sacra-
mento the negotiations will take a
more formal course. This would in
volye an analysis of the exact mean
ing of article 1 of the treaty of 1911.
under which the Japanese have owned
and leased land and houses in cali
f0rnia. radical difference on this
point might be expected to lead to
formal protest from Japan which, in
turn, If not regarded undoubtedly
would result in the denunciation of
the whole treaty of trade and com
meree.
The chance remark dropped from
high officials make it evident that the
treaty is in danger of an attack from
another direction. It is said some con-
sideration already has been given to a
suggestion emanatine from the Paci-
lie coast that a treaty like any sta
tute is subject to the test of consti
tutlonality by the supreme court,
Consequently. if the existing treaty of
ISL conferring the right Of free hold
ana lease upon japanese in America
is IN conflict with a law already en-
acted by the legitimate exercise Of
states power, then, instead of being
lhe supreme law of the land the
treaty itself must give way to a state
law, so far as California is concerned,
on the theory that the treaty
have infringed the constitutional
rights Of the state
Questions like this, and that touch
ing the right Of the japanese to
naturalization in America under ex-
Nling law, however, are reserved for
consideration in case of the efforts
now making to secure satisfactory
legislation in California should fail
as a last resort and to remove the
humiliation from which the Japanese
now suffer, from their present legal
STATUS 1t is possible that an appeal
may be made to the national govern
"eht to amend the naturalization law,
winch if successful would completely
remove the bsis of the Japanese plan
wen though japanese subjects were
s'll Kept from owning land in Cali
fornia.