Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-19
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HOPE TO AGREE ON
JAPANESE TREATY

FS'f, ~ - -
Washington, Feb. 19,-It was
learned today that negotiations are
in progress between the United States
and Japan for the settlement of the
disputes in which the two countries
are involved. l.
The Wilson administration and the
authorities in Toxic have surrounded
the latest negotiations with the great
est secrecy because they feared pre-
mature publication would block their
efforts to reach an agreement. The
preliminary conversations that have
occurred, however, indicate diSpoSi-
ton on both sides to make new
treaty which, while saving Japan's
face, will preserve the rights of the
States and exclude Japanese laborers.
Exactly in what manner the nego-
tiators dispose of the questions IN
the controversy through a blanket
provision in the proposed treaty has
not developed. SO far as the admin
istration here is concerned it must
take into account the sentiment in
the Senate and particularly the at
titude of the senators representing
the Pacific coast.
1t is apparent no. treaty can re-
ceive approval from the Senate which
does not recognize western objection
to the Japanese. The treaty now In
force authorizes the citizens or sub
jects of each of the high contracting
parties to enter, travel and reside In
the territory of the other, to carry on
trade, "to own or lease and occupy
houses, manufactures, warehouses and
shops, to employ agents of their choice,
and to lease land for residential and
commercial purposes, and generally do
anything incident to or necessary for
trade upon the same terms as native
citizens or subjects submitting them
selves to the laws and regulations
there established"
1t is this provision which was the
basis of the japanese protest of last
August against the California land
law Secretary Bryan has not an
swered this protest and has no inten-
ton of so doing, now that negotia-
tions for new treaty have been in
augurated.
1t is the impression here that the
new treaty will apply the same pro-
hibitions to Americans in Japan as
to Japanese in the United States. If
this should be dore, the equality of
treatment which Japan especially Dc
sires will be provided.
How the matter is to be worked out,
however, is not so Smpoftantfas the
fact that the two countries are get:
ting together and that there is a'pros-
pect of the restoration of cordial re-
lations.
The japanese ambassador is being
guided in the negotiations by the
consuls general of his country STA
toned in the United States. He thus
is being made familiar with the stu
alton of resident Japanese and will
be able to speak advisedly on their
needs.
The President and Secretary Bryan
have obtained data from the Immi-
grafton Bureau presided over by Com
missioner General Caminetti. Thus
there will be no excuse for any mis-
take or omission in the forthcoming
document to provoke irritation in the
future.
1t was because the negotiations
were in progress and because of their
unwillingnFss to turn the riots In
Toxic from the naval scandal to the
with the United States
that the President and Secretary Bry
an urged Congress to do nothing look
ing toward the exclusion of Japanese
laborers. Action of this kind might
have resulted in the overthrow of the
and the straining of Ameri-
relations to the break
ing point.
Caminetti's Attitu ude.
For the same reason there is shar;
in administration circles of
Commissioner General c ,minetti be-
cause of the character of the testi-
money he gave several days ago before
the House committee investigating.
Mr. Caminetti charged in effect that.
the japanese government has not
been observing the gentlemen's agree
ment under which Japan herself pro-
hibits the immigration of japanese
laborers to this country.