The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-08
Rearing on Japanese Controvers,
interests Washington.

the Arizona anti-alien law as ruI and
void because contrary to the provision
Of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Fad
eral Constitution by the Federal Court Al
San Francisco attracted much attention
here to-day.
II s believed that me decision may prov.
TO have a bearing on the California alien
land law controversy with Japan. which
remains unsettled and which is regarded
by many as the most dangerous phase
OF our International relations
The court held that the Arizona Law
which requires that not more than 70 p,r
cent. Of the employees OF any firm or ind
vldual shall be aliens violates the const-
tutional guarantee OF life. liberty and
property TO all persons alike II the Stat,
were permitted TO restrict the percentage
OF allen employees 1t could with equal
justice forbid the employment OF aliens
at all, the court held.
Joint Alien Action.
The action thus decided at San Fran.
cisco was brought by Italian. Chinese and
Japanese residents of Arizona, acting
jointly No such action ever has been
brought against the California alien land
law, but there is now reason to believe
that as a result OF tho favorable decision
in the Arizona case Individual Japanes.
may take similar proceedings In Cali.
fornla
The United States Government sug
gested to the Japanese Government tha,
the California law could at any time be
tested by Japanese in the Federal courts
The japanese Government held, howevoi
that II, was not its place to test the Law
but that the Washington Government as
the treaty making power, should bring the
action in the courts TO test the California
law. This the United States has refused
to do. with the result that no action has
been brought from either side.
The argument has frequently been made
in UNFOLDING the Japanese side OF tho
California dispute that provisions OF the
tional guarantees as TO the possession NJ
property
IL was declared that the treaty will
Japan accorded TO Japanese subjects IN,
right to come to and live In the United
States: that this right of residence having
been conceded, then the Federal Govern
ment was bound to secure to the Japanes,
full retention OF their rights OF life, libert,
and property
The Expected Eject.
Acceptance OF this reasoning by IN,
Federal Court in the Arizona case will
II is believed. undoubtedly stimulat.
Japanese affected by the alien land Law
in CalfornJ 20 try to have the statute
nullihed.
II blow by the courts is delivered
directly az the aHen land law OF Califor.
mia 1t will make the Washington Admin
istration breathe easier and go far toward
curtailing the power OF the California o.
other Pacific coast Legislature TO Gauss
trouble on this score.
The Italian and British Government
made representations against the Arizons
law and based their statements on IN,
privileges accorded in treaties with m,
United States II is known. however
that these Governments were also nre.
pared to raise the constitutional question
II the matter were not decided in theii
favor on the basis OF treaty guarantees
Tho State Department requested the
Governor OF California to-day to procure
and transmit to Washington an accurate
report OF the action regarding the Arizona
law and the courts decision.