Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-16
ALIEN LAW
TOPIC AT CONFERENCE
President and Secretary Bryan
Review Situation-District
Statute as Model.

Secretary Bryan conferred with Presi-
dent Wilson today about the develop
ments in the California legislature. No
announcement was made; but the Presi-
dent arranged also to see Secretaries
Lane of the Interior Department and
Houston of the Agricultural Department
later in the day to discuss the situation.
Mr. Lane halls from California. while
Mr. Houston has given much study to
alien land questions.
The alien land holding bill as passed
by the lower house of the California
legislature yesterday, in it's amended
form, is regarded by the officials here as
much more difficult than the original
measure for the Japanese government to
oppose successfully. for the reason that
it now closely follows the lines Of the
alien ownership act which for the past
decade has been strictly enforced in the
District Of Columbia and the territories
of the United States. without objection
from any foreign government.
Situation in Japan.
To lodge an objection to 5tfie measure.
based on strict equity. probably it would
be necessary for the Japanese government
dent in Japan the right to acquire prop
erty in fee simple, a privilege which.
though intended to be conferred by treaty,
so far has been withheld in general ap-
plication.
The attitude Of the administration and
Of the Japanese embassy here, in spite
of Yesterdays action of the California
assembly, must continue to be one OF OBJ
servation at this stage, because gen
erally similar BILL though different in de-
tail remains to be finally passed in the
California senate. Then there must be
a conference to reconcile the differences
| between the two houses. and back OF It all
is the action of the Governor Of Cali
for Ia While the situation Is in it's pres
ent stage there is no official ground for
action on the part OF the administration
or the Japanese embassy. though no at
tempt is made to disguise the fact that
privately every effort is being set forth
to bring the alien land holding bill into
an unobjectionable shape.
Provision of District Code.
Section. 39s of the code of law for
the District of Columbia provides:
TT shall be unlawful for any person
not a citizen of the United States or
who has not lawfully declared his in
tention to become such citizen or for
any corporation not created by or
under the laws of the United States
or of some state or territory of the
| United States, to hereafter acquire and
| own real estate, or any interest there
| in, in the District of Columbia. except
such as may be acquired by inherit
ance: Provided, That the prohibition OF
this section shall not apply to cases
| in which the right to hold sand dispose
Of lands in the United States is Sc
cured by existing treaties to the citi-
Zens or subjects of foreign countries
which rights. SO far as they exist by
| force of any such treaties, shall con-
tinue to exist so long as such treaties
are in force. and no longer, and shall
not apply to the ownership of foreign
legations or the ownership of residence
! by representatives Of foreign govern :
ments or attaches thereof