Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-26
JUNE 20, 1911
THE CALIFORNIA LAND QUESTION AGAIN

Considerable speculation must naturally be
aroused as to why the details of the California
land affair discussion between Japan and the
United States are made public at this time. So
far as the people of either country know, there
has been no recent development to call for
Publication of the correspondence between the
two nations through Ambassador Chnda and
Secretary of State Bryan.
The conjecture is sure to be heard in some
quarters that the Mexican situation has led
Japan to an insistenee upon some action by the
United States to block the operation of the new
california law. This conjecture is natural on
the part of those who think of Japan as waiting
On the other side of the Pacific for some bIunder
by the United States that will bring on war. To
these the publication of the correspondence
cabled around the world last night means that
Japan is pressing the point because the ener-
eies of Uncle Sam are largely engaged on the
Mexican border.
But this is not the most plausible nor the
most reasonable explanation. 1t is far more
likely that the California land question has now
reached the point of diplomatic mpdsse.
Even a casual perusal of the correspondence
pill show that while the state department en-
pha5izes its inability to- interfere with Cal
'f0rnia SO long as California violates no treaty
PROVISIONS, Japan is quite unable to understand
that state can enact legislation affecting and
tndangering international relations. In high
81 centralized government such as that of the
Nikado's empire, such provincial legislation
would never be attempted, or, il attempted,
would quickly be suppressed by orders from
Headquarters in Toxic. The doctrine of states
lights, the powers of a sovereign commonwealth
such as California, are unknown in Japan. and
Japan either affects not to believe that Califor-
MIA has the right toenact the land legislation in
question, or is sincerely unable to understand in
this respect the structure of Uncle Sans gov
ernment. 49,
Japan's arguments of grievance are, Of
course, given backing by the mutual pledges of
fair and equal treatment between the two conn
Iriex Between a literal carrying-out of these
pledges there stands the United States immi-
grafton law under which Japanese immigrants
cannot be naturalized Thus the California land
question gets back to the fundamental question
Of naturalization for the 0rientals now denied
That privilege. i
So Japan and the United States have reached
II place where neither can retract--the one be-
cause it's intense and sensitive national pride
will not permit it to brook anything that APP
pears nationally discriminatory, the other he
eause it cannot but stand by it's constitution
and the states Hereunder guaranteed soyereig IN
bowers III. ."-... III.
Under these circumstances, the publication
Of the correspondence would seem to be for the
purpose of evoking public discussion and placN
ing the position of the diplomats frankly before
the people of their respective countries. Sane
and thorough discussion may lead the way to a
solution of a tremendous international problem.
One thing is noticeable throughout the
Observation-Disclosures is nothing either side to
rive the slightest comfort to the jingoists. ia
pans notes are courteous in the extreme and
insistent first of all on full study and discus
sion of the difficult subject. There is nothing
ike an Illtimatum, nor the shadow of threat.
To those who picture Japan a country
feeming with war preparations, a country
swarIning with soldiers being drilled for an
Occidental invasion, a country building bat
fleships to, cross the Pacific on hostile mis-
sion, the calm and careful tone of the cores
pondence will be disappointing.
There is this to he said, however, that Japan
nride has been touched to the quick and the tone
Of further negotiations is likely to be a trifle
sharper