The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-28
JAPANESE MOVE INTERESTING,
AROUSES MUCH SPECULATION IN
WASHINGTON.
Some Think That q Section Of Address
Refers to New Treaty-Nesottation
ON Between Two Countries.


Makino's statement in the Japanese
parliament yesterday of the status
OF the California alien land legislation
today excited the greatest interest in
official circles. Although under q spe-
cial agreement between the two gov
ernments the Japanese foreign min
lister refrained from making public
the details Of the exchanges. his
statement was informative in many
quarters, particularly in congress.
President Wilson was aware Of the
fact that statement was to be made.
Where negotiations are still incom-
plete, the rules Of diplomacy require
the assent Of both parties to the pub
lication Of any of the details, SO that
one side may not take advantage of
the other to form public opinion. This
rule was scrupulously observed in the
present instance. and Secretary
Bryan admitted that he was aware Of
and had consented to Baron Makino's
statement.
By coincidence, the house COM
mittee on immigration today was con.
sidering some data supplied from the
state department regarding Japanese
immigration when attention was
called to the development in Tokyo
and although the data before the
committee were purely hypothetical
and belonged TO period prior to the
Webb act, the committee decided that
1T would be prudent at this stage to
consider such subjects behind closed
doors.
In administration circles there was
q feeling Of optimism regarding the
relations between the United States
and Japan and the highest officials
did not hesitate to express the opinion
that q satisfactory agreement between
the two countries soon would be
reached
When attention was called to the
fact that the negotiations had been
suspended last August, because Of q
radical difference Of opinion between
the two governments as to the mean
Ing OF the existent treaty, one of the
officials who would be directly con.
cerned in the proceedings suggested
that the proper way to meet such q
condition would be to frame a new
treaty which would so precisely de-
hne the rights Of each party that
there could be no further difference
OF construction. It has been under
stood that in the course OF the ex-
changes II was thought this idea of
an adjustment might DO the means of
the new treaty.
1t was stated today that Japan
had not made any formal request
Tor such a convention. Therefore it
Is believed that the matter was still
open for the resumption of the ne
gotations on that basis in the future,
and 1t was suggested that this prob.
ably was what Baron Maxine had in
mind when he referred to "other
ways" OF dealing with this question.
The matter before the house COM
mittee today was a discussion OF the
treaties and points of international
law bearing on the provision of the
pending Raker immigration bill. A
brief prepared by John Bassctt
Moore counselor Of the department,
set forth that in several instances
the measure probably would contra
Vene existing treaties. particularly
In so far as 1t would violate "the most
Favored nation" clauses. The brief
indicated that the state department
holds that any legislation Of the ma
ture OF the Raker bill should contain
clause stating specifically that the
treaties are not 0brOgated.