Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-10
SUGGESTS NATIONAL
LAW ADMITTING THEM TO
CITIZENSHIP.
IT WOULD BE
SAlvE TO INJURED PRIDE
Would Leave Administrator Free
to Uphold Action Of CALIFORNIA;
LecisIature-Japane Note Polite
But Firm in Character - Two Oh.
jeetions Cited.

Washington, May l0.-Recommenda-
ton by President Wilson of a law au-
,horiZing the admission of japanese
subjects to American citizenship is
proposed by the administration to
Japan as d solution of the California
question
ii is solution which undoubtedly
will be received with satisfaction in
Toxic. 1t salves japanese pride,
aroused by the imputatlon OF inferior
.ty cast BY the California legislation.
At the same time the administration is
left free to uphold the action OF the
California legislature and can not be
charged with violating or Infringing
the rights OF the state.
Thus the first big international ques-
ton OF the Wilson administration is IN
a way Of being settled with dignity u
Doth nations involved and to the peo-
PIE OF California. The reply OF Japan
will be communicated TO Secretary OF
State Bryan today. Ii there should pc
any further objection. another meet
ing Of the cabinet will be held at once.
i AS a violation OF the treaty OF 1911
between the two countries.
. AS discriminatory against Japan
csc and therefore i'll violation OF the
rule of equal treatment tor the ci'i-
zens Of foreign nations.
Note Firm in Character.
Altflo the japanese note was couched
III polite language il was so firm IN
character as TO make ii apparent that
the Toxic government would not toi-
crate what 1t regards as an lndlsnity
aDproaching an insult to a friendly
government
There was no threat in the japanese
protest. but the !@suafe was sui
fici.n1Iy clear TO justify the deduction
that unless satisfied there would be
further action.
During the discussion at the cabinet
meeting several courses were deEei-
opcd. any one of which the United
states could follow. These We're:
To back up California; but the OBJ
lection to this lay in its further at
front to Japan,
To appeal 10 the voters of California
thru the referendum; but the objec-
ton offered was that popular sentiment
turnout the state is IN favor OF the
legislation enacted.
to nuliify the California act on the
ground that ii was in violation OF the
treaty of 1911: but this would arouse
public feeling against the administra-
ton along the entire Pacific slope.
Way Out Of Difficulty.
The compromise proposed was the
following:
That the president recommend citi-
zenshiu for japanese. This would re-
lieve the administration from the ne
cessity of taking steps to force Cali
fornia to repeal the law or to take the
matter into the federal courts, which
might uphold the measure. 1t would
show the japanese that, In the opinion
of the federal government Of the United
States, they are no, inferior to any
other alien race. Il would not interfere
with the legislative action Of sover-
eign state.
The fear that food Of Japanese
would seek citizenship Is not aroused
because the japanese government in
tends to continue its policy of with
holding passports from laborers desir-
ing TO go to the United States. This
policy has been in force for Ave years
under a so-called "gentlemen's agree
ment." It has worked to the entire
satisfaction Of both nations.
l, is doubtful if congress at this ses-
sion would pass a bill granting citizen
ship to the Japanese. The matter will
go over until the regular session, when
the president may push Il vigorously.