The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-05-14
JOHNSON ASKED TO
WITHHOLD SIGNATURE
California Land Troubles must be
Settled by Diplomacy Thinks the
Washington Officials.

Washington Officials.
Washington, May 11.-The federal
governments effort to delay anti
alien land owning legislation in Cal
ifornia was made tonight when Sec
retary Bryan in the name of Presi-
dent Wilson telegraphed Gov. John
son notifying him that the japanese
ambassador had earnestly protested
against the bill passed by the Cali
fornia assembly and urging that the
governor postpone action by with
holding his signature.
Secretary Bpyan's telegram, which
was framed after conference with
the president yesterday was dispatch
ed tonight and made public at the
White House few minutes later. 1t
was as follows:
"The president directs me to ex-
press his appreciation of your cour-
tesy in delaying action on the land
bill now before you, until it's provi-
sions could be communicated to the
Japanese government and considered
by it,
His eXcellency, Baron Chinda, has,
on behalf of his government present
ed an earnest protest against the
measure. AS you have before you
but two alternatives, viz: To approve
or veto, it will avail nothing to re-
call to your attention the amendments
suggested to the legislature and as
the president has already laid before
you his views upon the subject it Is
unnecessary to reiterate 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, be-
cause any conflict complained of
would be a matter for the courts, but
the president feels justified in ex-
pressing again his desire that action
on the subject be deferred for this
session and he expresses the desire
the more freely because the legisla-
ture can be reconvened at any time if
is fully alive to the Importance of re-
moving any root of discord which may
create antagonism between American
citizens and the subjects of Oriental
nations residing here but he is i'm
PEELED by a sense of duty to express
the hope that you will see fit to allow
time for diplomatic effort The ma
tions affected by the proposed law are
friendly nations-nations that have
shown themselves willing to cooperate
in the establishment of harmonious re-
lations between their people and ours
IF postponement commends it
self to your judgment the president
will be pleased to cooperate in a sys-
tematic effort to discover and correct
any evils that may exist in connection
with land ownership by aliens"
Place Hope in Veto.
The decision of the administration
to urge Gov. Johnson to use his pow
er OF veto to postpone any long leg
islation was reached after series of
conferences between the president,
Secrtary Bryan and John Bassstt
Moore, counsellor of the state depart
ment and frequent calls at the depart
ment by Ambassador Chinda. 1t was
realized that any further attempt to
have the bill enacted by the California
legislature amended would be fruit
less, since Secretary Bryans trip to
Sacramento was unavailing and the
legislature is to adjourn next Tuesday.
Until Gov. Johnson's reply is re-
ceived the government probably will
make no reply to the protest of ia
pan further than to acquant the en-
bassador with the fact that every
possible effort has been made to have
action in California delayed pending
a settlement of the problems involved
by diplomacy
Whether or not the gC,,.nor com
plies with the administrations re-
quest there probably will be impor-
tant diplomatic negotiations between
the United States and Japan imme-
diately. If the land bill is vetoed the
president and Secretary Bryan will
have to undertake to carry out their
promise to accomplish through diplo-
macy the ends sought by the Califor-
mans. There has been no intimation
of what may be expected in the event
the governor gives the bill his sig