The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-03-22
ISSUES WARNING
AGAINST SELLING
LAND To JAPANESE
State Department Objects to
Japs Acquiring 1t
FEARS DESIGN BY JAPAN
Toxic Government Has poubtIsse
Planned Peaceful Conquest OF
Pacific Coast

Washington. March 21.-Acting on
telegraphic information furnished by
Senator James D. Phelan OF Californ.
10, the State Department has issued
a warning TO Americans interested
in a large tract on the Lower Call
fornIa coast OF Mexico, the sale Of
whic hto certain Japanese interests
is projected, that 1t will be we'll to
bear In mind the Lodge resolution
passed by the United States Senate
on Aug. 2, 1912. The department has
also undertaken an investigation OF
the project.
The lodge resolution declared the at
titude Of the United States under Ger.
tain conditions as on the possession
or ownership OF strategic alien har.
bors within the American continents.
The resolution was passed after It
had been brought TO the attention of
the Senate In the Spring of 1912, the
last year Of the Taft Administration.
when Mr.. Knox was Secretary Of
State. that negotiations were In pro-
gress for the sale OF about 100000
acres OF land by an American syndi
cate TO syndicate in which Japanese
interests would be largely represet-
ed.
The dissolution as then adopted,
and which has now been called to the
attention of the Los Angles syndicate
which is represented as being involv-
edin negotiations to sell another
tract OF Lower California TO Japanese
interests, was passed by the over.
whelming vote of 81 TO 4. reads
Resolved, that when any harbor
or other place in the American con-
tinents is so situated that the occu.
patton thereof for naval or military
purposes might threaten the com.
munications or the safety OF the
United States. the Government of the
United States could not see, without
tgrave concern. the actual or potential
possession OF such harbor or other
place by any Government, not Ameri.
can as TO give that Government prac.
teal power OF control for naval or
military purposes"
San Francisco, March 21-The AS
sociated Press reports the demand OF
The japanese representatives at Paris
that the constitution OF the League
AXE cognizance CT the rights OF
foreigners. and that the japanese be
accorded equal and Just treatment
This would require the United States
to grant citizenship. the voting privi
ege, inter.marriage. and the owner
ship OF land.
California and the Pacific Coast re
gion Is not only the most exposed ter
ritory but has had actual experienc,
, with what 1t believes TO be a greai
national danger. II therefore devol
yes upon the Western United States
20 make protest and to inform the
Eaet CT the nature OF its objections
. Oriental immigration has flowed In
20 this part OF the country until Con
J gress and the State Department hav,
by exclusion laws and the gentle
mans agreement set up a barrier
! Recent developments have show
4 that Japanese men and women car
. rying passports from their countrl
- have come, In reduced numbers. 1
!. is true, through the gates Of Tho
!; country; but an apparent attempt /,
T circumyent the Federal laws an,
/ agreements and the California Ian,
laws forbidding ownership or Ian,
oy Oriental aliens has been discover
ed
Recently forty Japanese, detecte
IN crossing the Mexican border ,hay
been ordered TO be deported, and III
postal censorship has revealed tina
u the Japanese write TO their friend
at home and in the Hawaiian Island
+. giving directions how to reach Mexic
J. Tor the purpose OF crossing the line
ana also supplying them wit
y money.