The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-26
Japan Has Land Question

Japan has another land question be-
sides that in California. Missions in
Japan. despite the Fact that the law does
not permit an American to own land
there. hold more than $5,00o.O00 worth of
property, made up of schools, churches.
hospitals. residences and the land on
which they stand.
For many years, in fact, till 1903.
believe, this property was held in the
names Of a few trustworthy japanese.
said the Rev. Heron Smith, a Methodist
missionary now doing graduate work in
journalism at the University of Kansas.
"Eor instance, in all central and eastern
Japan the Methodist mission held its
property in the name of Sennosuke Ogata.
a graduate of DePauw university, He
could have sold it or mortgaged 1t and
no one been the wiser, but it speaks well
for the dependableness of the Christian
Japanese that not one of these trustees
was unfaithful to his trust. OF course
there was great risk in such a policy.
for at any time the man might die and
no one could foresee what course his
heirs might take, says the Boston Herald
"At length law was passed granting
to foreigners the rights of a juridical
person; that it, a company of foreigners
might form a corporation which could
hold property. A smart lawyer was en-
gagged to go into the matter, and his in
vestigation resulting satisfactorily, the
missionaries of each church, who, wheth-
er they are harmless as doves or not, are
sharp as serpents, Immediately organ
lied themselves into shadan' or 'zai-
dan.' two kinds of corporations
THUS the law Is both obeyed and
evaded, and thus it is that Americans
have had and still have, and it is not to
be wondered at their hearts do not ex-
actly go out in sympathy to their pro-
teges In California.
Ever since Japan opened her doors to
foreigners and their commerce and re-
ligion the land question has been a dis
puted one. When. we remember that Ja-
pans area is only that of Kansas and
Nebraska combined, and that on this
land, only 13 per cent of which is ara bic
must live 52,00O,0oo people, we can UNDER
stand why Japan has never opened her
doors wide to Immigrants.
Tor many years, till the constitution
was promulgated inr1SSs, I think. foreign
ers were required to live in foreign con-
cessions, as they We're called. These were
located in Toxic, Oska, Yokohama Kobe,
size from three acres in Osake to go
acres in Yokohama. The land within was
let to. foreigners on perpetual leases, the
rate Being about $1,000 kear--quite high
as rates went in those early days.
"As years passed these cities eW and
the concessions became the centers of
commerce and much increased in value.
The rental being stationary. became
rldlculously low, and, though the foreign
police. judges and jurisdiction of all
kinds were completely done away with.
The Hague tribunal upheld the for
eigners in their right to the land at
the original te.
about half of the leases are held by
| British Subjects, half the. remainder by
| Anne ans and the other quarter by Ger
mans. French and Swiss. In some OF
! these cities the foreigners today refuse
! to pay taxes Of any kind, and the ques.
! tion must come up again at The Hague
or before an arbitration committee fol
further consider alton"