Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-05-20
Utmost Secrecy Maintained in'
Diplomatic Circles as 10 Con-
tents of Notes Exchanged by
Governments.
ORIENTAL PRIDE HURT
BY CALIFORNIA LAW
Ambassador Chinda Cables
Statement to Toxic, From
Where Next Move in Game
Must Be Made.
isy uornlne IouanAl srsclAl lsAs1o " ssl

tsv noRnuHe JOURNAL SPECIAL laAsro " eel
Washington, May 19.-Secretary
Bryan late today handed Ambassador
Chinda the reply of the United States
government 20 the japanese protest
against the California alien land leg
islation. The ambassador immediate
II cabled it to Toxic.
Upon learning through press dis
patches that Governor johnson had
signed the Webb land act. Secretary
BRYAN telephoned Viscount Chsnda
and invited him to come 10 the state
department TO receive the reply
which he had been anxiousy await
ing since the presentation Of his note
on May 2.
When the answer had been determ-
lned the secretary and the am hassa-
dor conferred earnestly for an hour
regarding the general aspect Of the
problem which they are trying to
solve. OF course. the opinions ex-
pressed were tentative. as for his part
the ambassador felt that he must he
guided en- ..ely IS the directions ot
the foreign office AZ Toxic and he
could only surmise what might be the
attitude Of the officials al home
Meantime, 1t was understood that
both the Japanese protest and the
state departments answer would he
withheld from publication for the
present. at least on the ground thai
1t would be iniudeious TO submit the
delicate questions at issue TO heated
discussion in the newspapers and nj
possible mass meetings.
The negotiations between the two
governments are now expected 10
proceed in regular fashion without
further reference to what takes
place in California. Upon returning
to the embassy Viscount Chinda dis
patched the state departments reply
to his own government and it is as
sumed that several days may elapse
before the next steD is taken
In view Of the understanding be-
tween the two governments regarding
the Withholding of the correspond
enee from publicity, none of the of
ficials at the White House, the state
department or the japanese embassy
care to indicate the nature of the
japanese objections or Of secretary
Bryan's reply From other sources.
however, il IS gathered that while the
japanese allege technical violations of
the treaty of 1911 by the California
law, these relate to minor provisions,
such as that prohibiting Japanese
from inheriting property in California.
The real weight of objection is
against the spirit Of the whole legis-
lation. which is regarded as distinctly
discriminatory against the japanese.
While il Is not alleged that the treaty
in terms prohibits such discrimination
he nj or he .
we'll as the general principles Of in
ternational law. are regarded by
japan as outraged by the webb act.
The mere fact that America has en-
tered into the treaty relations with
Japan is cited as an admission of
equality.
In his answer Secretary Bryan Is
understood to have recOlnted at
length the efforts made by the ad-
ministration to guard against an in
irlngement of the treaty rights of the
Japanese. Officials here believe this
substantially has been accomplished
through the amendment of the Origi-
nal Webb act and that at any rate If
the Japanese government takes .
contrary view. il will be an easy mat
ter for ii to test the issue in the Amer
lean courts. This, Ii is pointed ont,
would seem to remove the issue from
one of treaty construction. If the state
departments view is correct. to the
broad field Of international law.
Ii Is realized here that the japanese
government Is not very much con-
cerned about the exclusion of its sub
jeets from America. for they are much
reeded in Manchuria, Korea and For
mosa. Underlying the whole objection.
ii is said, Is the intense national pride
of the japanese, which has been
touched to the quick by the general
development Of anti japanese feeling
on the Pacific coast. Official circles
realize that the negotiations from this
point forward must be conducted with
extreme caution. Tut there IL a gen
eral conviction that an amicable solu-
tion of the problems involved event
lally will be reached.
Secretary Bryan today said he had
not communicated with Governor
johnson since the receipt of the gov
ernor's long message explaining his
reasons for deciding to sign the act
and probably would not do so.
EMTSsARIES