Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-15
Governor johnson of California
Urged to Postpone Acton by
Withholding Signature.
JAPAN'S PROTEST THE BASIS
Telegram Framed after Confer.
ence at White House between
President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan.

Waahingtoi. May Ill he tes eral gov.
ernnent's final effort to Delay alien land
owning legislation in California was made
tonight when Secretary Bryan in the
name of President Wilson telegraphed
Governor johnson notifying him that the
Japanese ambassador had earnestly pro-
tested against the bill passed by the Cali
fornia LEGISLATURE and urging that tho
Governor postpone action by Withholding
his signature
Secretary Bryans telegram, which was
framed aftor a conference with the Presi'
dent yesterday was despatched tonight
and made public at the White House a
few minutes later. 1t was as follows:
The President directs me to express
his appreciation OF your courtesy in de-
Ia wing action on the land BILL now before
you Until its provisions could he commu-
nicated to the Japanese government and
considered by It
His excellency, Baron Chinda. has.
! on behalf of his government presented
| an earnest protest against the measure
AS you have before you but two alterna-
tivos. i. g., to approve or to veto. it will
avail nothing to recall to your attention
D
! lature; and as the President has already
| laid before you his views upon the sub
tect 1t is unnecessary to reterate 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
obligations, and, second, because any
conflict 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 reconvcned at any time If the
welfare of the State requires it, He Is
fully alive to the Importance of removing
any root of dscord which may crea te
antagonism between American citizens
and the subjects of oriental nations re-
siding here, but he Is impelled by a
sense of duty to express the hope tina,
YOU will see fit to allow time for dplo-
matte effort, The nations affected by the
proposed law are friendly nations, nations
that have shown themselves willing &c
cooperate in the establishment of har-
monous relations between their peopl,
and ours.
IF postponemcnt commends itself t,
your Judgment, the President will b.
pleased to cooperate in systemat
effort to discover and correct any evil
that may exist in connection with land
ownership by aliens"
The decision of the administration t.
urge Governor johnson to use his powe
of veto to postpone any land Legislation
was reached after series of conference
between the President, Secretary Brya
and John Bassett Moore. counsellor o
the state department. and frequent call
at the department by Ambassado
Chinda. 1t was realized that any furthe
attempt to have the bill enacted by tn
, California Legislature amended would b
, fruitess, since Secretary Bryan's trip t
. Sacramento was unavailing and tn
/, Legislature is to adjourn next Tuesday
, Until Governor Johns reply Is receive
, the government probably will make n
reply to the protest of Japan furthe
than TO acquaint the ambassador OF TN
, fact that ever" possible effort has pee
. made to have action in California delay
ed pending a settlement of the problem
involved by diplomacy
whether or not the Governor compile
with the administrations request, ther
probably Will be important diplomatic liz
eotiations between the United States an
Japan Immediately. II the land bill Is W
D toeG, the President ard Secretary SEya
i Will nave to undertake TO corey out tn"
e promise to accomplish throrSh diptcrac
:. the ends sought by the >.ahforrptl
c There has been no animation OF WIS
y may be expected in the event the IoFe
n nor gives the bill Ids signature hoWeVe
d test in the court Ia regarded as CO.
q taintv If the Law becomes effective. az
s in spite of the silence at the WHIT ttoc'
II and state department there still Is Ia
e outside OF the possibility of emp Dying II
referendum as q means for delaying u
" effectiveness of the proposed law Tor
.e least nearly two years
e Sacramento, Cal, May I--ooVerfi'
? johnson received the communicate
n from Secretary of State Bryan at fe
minutes before ton O'Clock tonight bl
s. declined TO make any comment upon
III other than 20 say he would formulate h
g; reply ~ soon as possible.
m "WiM you telegraph your reply t.
RS night" he was asked
Or No not until tomorrow morr'nS at II
earliest" replied the Governor