The Washington herald., 1913-10-02
JAPAN MAY ASK
FOR new treaty
Nipponese Government Anx-
ious to Get Direct Ques-
ton Settled.
PRESENT LAW EVASIVE
Maintenance of Equality as Nahon
to Be Strongly Insisted
Upon.

The reports from Tokyo that the JAP
anese government is sending a new note
in the California alien land law contro-
versy caused much surprise in othclal
circles here yesterday, inasmuch as the
last note received from Japan has not
vet been answered by the State Depart
ment.
No official announcement that the note
is coming has been received at the State
Department from the American Embassy
at Tokyo At the japanese Embassy
here it was emphatically stated that no
additional note is to be expected from
japan prior to the reply of the United
States to the note delivered by Ambas-
sador Chinda several weeks ago.
While not in receipt of advices from
Tokyo for several days, Embassy Off
ciaIs said they were confident that they
would have been advised if another note
was being prepared for transmission TO
the United States government The fact
that they have not been informed to the
contrary leaves open the POSSIBILITY
however, that the note may be coming,
as reported.
Request Not Improbable.
From unofficial sources, however, it
was learned that there is good reason
TO believe that Japan is contemplating
treaty which would completely alter the
face of the situation between the two
governments According to this source,
Japan desires that the United States
negotiate an agreement which shall state
specifically that Japanese subjects shall
enjoy the same rights OF ownership OF
land in the United States as all other
aliens. of whatever nationality.
In other words, the Japanese, ap-
parentIy despairing of making any head
wav in their contention that the present
treaty of 1911 is violated by the Cali
fornia land law. propose to effect an
agreement which FwilI make the Cali
Cornia law unquestiOnably in violation OF
its terms This done. the United States
will he called upon to effect the nullhca-
ton of the California act. under the de-
Cisions of the Supreme Court OF the
United States that treaty to which the
United States is a party snail De the
supreme law of the land.
The seriousness of the situation which
such A request upon the part of Japan
would create is quickly realized When
it is stated that the immediate enect
would be to raise the direct and funda-
mental issue as to whether the Federal
government of the United States is in
favor of permitting japanese to acquire
and own land in this country.
Throughout the seven months sof dls-
,ussion of the, California act, the Presi-
dent and Secretary Bryan have been
able to avoid the direct issue of the at
titude of the Federal government toward
the desire of the Japanese to enjoy equal
privileges of land ownership in the
United States by cOnfining themselves to
the immediate question, that is, whether
the California law is in violation of the
treaty of 1871. The presentation of such
Il demand upon the part of Japan would
force President Wilson either to grant
what was asked. or else practically slap
Japan in the face by refusing.
Senntc May Oppose.
The certainty that most serious OBJ
iectiOns would be offered in the Senate
TO any such agreement as it is said
that Japan is going to ask makes the
position of the administration in the face
Of such a demand even more embarrass-
ing.
The whole matter has been regarded
by Japan as a contest she was obliged
to make for the maintenance of her
equality as a nation with the other ma
tions of the world. Such a demand as
is now proposed would put to a test the
question whether the government and
people Of the United States are really
willing to admit the equality of the
Japanese. 1t would likewise take away
from the national administration its
present disclaimer of responsibility by
putting the burden on Washington in
stead of California.
That this very proposal has been dis
cussed in the conferences between Am
bassadOr Chnda and the President and
Secretary Bryan was disclosed yester-
day 1t authOritatively was stated, how
ever. that no conclusion had been reach
ed and that this mode of a settlement
OF the matter had been discussed only
as every other conceivable method had
been talked OF.
That an inkIng of the contents of a
note which Japan is to send TO the
United States should leak out in Tokyo
before presentation at Washington is not
here regarded surprising, in view of
the political situation in Japan. The
Tokyo government has been severely
condemned many times by the opposi-
ton for the alleged weakness of its
policy in handling the controversy with
the United States. The government
therefore, is desirOus of convincing pub
lie opinion at home that it is most ASST
duous in defending the claims of Japan
and undoubtedly would benefit to a large
extent by an announcement that it is
about TO demand of the United States
treatment of Japanese on a par with
that accorded all other aliens in this
country.
PARCEL POST INSTRUCTIONS.