Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-26
Japan EMPHATIC
IN LATEST DEMAND
Again Calls on U. S. to Give
Relief to Her Subjects in
Land Ownership.
iNSIDiOUS DISCRIMINATION
is CHARGED IN ALIEN LAW
New Treaty Discussed as One Way
of Meeting Protest, But Toxic
Fears Other Difficulties.

phatic and uncomprcmising terms re-
lief for her subjects from what are
called .'invidiously discriminatory eff
fpcts of the California alien land own
ership law That was revealed today
in connection with the publication of
the diplomatic correspondence between
the United States and Japanese gov
ernments extending over period OF
more than year
1t disclosed that a new treaty was
discussed as one way Of meeting Japan
protest against what her diplomatic
correspondence characterized through
out as essentially unfair and in
vidiously discriminatory, inconsistent
with the sentiment of good neighbor-
hood" Inconsistent with the treaty IN
force" "abridgment of vested rights
and against provisions of the Cali
fornia law ''mortifying TO the govern
ment and the people of Japan.
But as late June 10. two weeks
ago the Japanese ambassador, Wis
count Chinda. left with Secretary
Bryan instructions" from the TOXIC
foreign office that the projected treaty
would tend to create new difficulties
The Japanese government therefore,
the note said, was 'diSinclined to con-
tinue the negotiations looking to the
conclusion of a convention on the lines
of the project which has been under
discussion but they prefer to recur
TO the correspondence which were in
terrupted. and they will now look
for an answer to the note handed MI
B-yan the 26th of August last. hoping
that in a renewal of the study OF the
case a Fundamental solution of the
question at issue may be found.
Equal Treatment Demanded.
The japanese note Of August 26 last.
which Mr. Bryan was now asked to
answer, concluded as follows:
The imperial government claims for
them Gts subjects) fair and equal
treatment and is unable either to &C
quieSce in the unjust and ZobnoXlouS
discrimination complained of, or to re-
gard the question as closed so long
as the existing state of things is per-
mitted to continue.
Two days ago secretary Bryan re-
piled to that communication, but pub
lication of the note has been with
held because it could not be included
in the correspondence made public at
Toxic. 1t will be published on a date
to be agreed upon later. 1t is under
stood that Secretary Bryan replied di-
rectly to the Japanese governments
desire TO take up the negotiations
anew where they were suspended and
reafirmed the position of the United
States, leaving the subject open for
further diplomatic exchanges.
So there the controversy ;s, stands. ap-
timationS in diplomatic circles that 1t
is being worked around to stage for
arbitration at The Hague. A stand
ard arbitration treaty with Japan now
Is in force, having only recently been
renewed. The proposed treaty which
was halted by Japans latest attitude.
1t is understood, proposed to touch
upon the naturalization of those
Japanese already owning lands.
Land Law Called Unfair.
May 9, 1913. after the California anti
alien land law had been passed, but
before 1t was signed by Gov. Johnson.
the Japanese amba ssador presented
the first urgent and explicit" protest
of his government He said that in
the opinion of Japan the act was un-
fair and discriminatory, was directed
against his countrymen, was incon-
siStent with the provisions of the
treaty N force, and that it was op-
posed to the spirit and fundamental
principles of amity and good UNDER
standing-
tention that the proposed law was in
violation of the treaty and discussed at
length its effect on the rights of Japa-
nese in the law of descent and its effect
upon corporations of which japanese
were members. 1t violated he contended,
the treaty guarantee granting Japanese
the most constant protection for their
property and the clause granting the
right to own houses. factories. ware
houses and shops. He animated that it
was contrary to the favored nation
clause also
Any possible remedy by resort to ordi-
nary processes of law. the ambassador
pointed out, would be unnecessary for
aliens eligible to citizenship. This mark
ed. he said, a further discrimination.
In closing. the ambassador stated that
his government desired to have It en-
trely clear that it attaches the utmost
Importance to the discriminatory phase
OF the legislation"
Treaty Rights Preserved.