Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06
State Department Requests
the Governor of Arizona to
Suspend Enforcement.
ALSO WANTS FULL TEXT
OF STATE Enactment
British and Italian Governments
Object to Reported Discrimina-
tion Against Foreign Labor.

Following formal protests filed by
the British and Italian ambassadors
with the State Department against
Arizona's new anti-alien employment
law. Secretary Bryan yesterday asked
Gov. Hunt whether his authority would
permit him to suspend operation of the
law and whether he thought it advis-
able to take other measures to pre-
vent its enforcement.
In the absence of official advices Sec
rotary Bryan refused last night to COM
ment on reports received through the
Associated Press that Gov. Hunt had
made a reply in Phoenix. announcing
his determination to postpone proclama-
ton OF the new law.
The State Department has also asked
Gov. Hunt to send a copy of the full
text of the law, only the substance of
which is known here, but which, it is
understood. requires that at least 80
per cent of those employed by any per-
son, firm or corporation in Arizona
shall be citizens of the United States.
Based on Statements in Protests.
The department based its message to
Gov. Hunt on information contained in
by the British and Italian ambassa-
doris, which was furnished by their con-
suls In Arizona.
The British protest attacks the law
as in violation of the fourteenth amend
ment of the Constitution of the United
States, which provides that no state
shall deny to ay person within it's
Jurisdiction equal protection of the
laws"
The Italian protest cites the CONNER
cial treaty between Italy and the
United States ratified in 1871, which
provides that citizens of each nation
resident in the other shall have liberty
tail, to hire and occupy houses and
warehouses. to employ agents of their
own choice and generally to do anything
incident or necessary for trade upon
the same terms as natives of the coun-
try, submitting themselves to the laws
there established
British Ambassadors Note.
The note presented by the British
ambassador sought information as to
the exact status of British residents
of Arizona under the law. 1t was
stated that British consuls there had
sent word that suits to test the legal
ity of the act were contemplated by
British residents.
In reply. the State Department noti-
fled both embassies it had taken steps
to obtain complete information as to
the anti-alien act and expected soon
to be able to furnish the desired in
formation. As soon as the text of
the Arizona law Is available it will be
subjected to study by the departments
legal advisers, who will also look up
court decisions based on anti-alien en-
actments of other states, such as Cali
fornia, Oregon and New York
Gov. Hunt Agrees to Delay.
PHOENIX, Ariz, December Gov.
George W. P. Hunt of Arizona. telegraph
ed the State Department today that he
would delay proclaiming the law voted
at the November election in Arizona for
bidding the employment of more than 20
per cent of foreigners in any business in
the state. Gov. Hunt declared that he was
averse to delaying the proclamation, but
would do so pending further advices from
the State Department
The State Department telegraphed Gov.
Hunt that the ambassadors of Great
Britain and Italy had protested against
the law and asked him il there were not
some means by which he could suspend
operation Of the measure. The governor s
telegram read:
Il am directed to issue a proclamation
declaring the measure law forthwith,
upon receipt from the Secretary of State
Of a certificate of the election return.
Forthwith broadly interpreted, means
within the reasonable time required to
prepare the proclamation. j am very
much adverse to prolonging the period
proceeding the issuance of the proclama-
ton, but realize the interna tional aspect
given by the protest of the Italian and
British embassies. and will await further
adviceS from the department"