The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-31
State Dept Demands Full Re-
port Mexican Land Concessions
Irritation Between America and
NippOnese Growing Rapidly.
NO WORD YET FROM MEXICO
There Are Issues on Which
Countries Are Far Apart.
Now Mexican Government In.
iects Self Into Situation.

Washington, March 3l.-The Amer
ican embassy at Mexico City was in
structed today to make inquiries con-
corning the report that the Mexican
government has granted agricultural
concessions to japanese in Lower Cali
ifornia, and to report the facts as
quickly as possible.
In making this announcement. the
department added it had no official
word from Mexico on the reported
concession. vas unable to determine as
yet whether the land was the same as
that to be sold two weeks ago by the
California and Mexican Land company
to japanese interests. whether the
concession had actually been made or
report of it merely sent out as
''feeler.'
Jap-U. s. Irritation Growing.
While probably purely coincidental.
nevertheless matters of irritation be-
tween the United States and the jap
anese government are beginning TO ac-
cumulate.
Issues involving marked differences
in viewpoint on the part of the respec-
tive nations now include:
l. The question of race equality before
the peace conference In Paris.
=. The Tien TsIu clash between Amerl-
can soldiers and Japs.
). The question OF American co-opers-
ton with the Japs in Siberia against real
and alleged Bolshevist factions.
4. Efforts OF Japanese to get n foothold
in Lower California.
.: The situation as regards the Japanese
claims for race equality an article Of the
league of nations is clothed In secrecy Mt
l'arfs but is conspicuous for the silence
surTound1ng u there ana inc irTw1rss Mt
and Japan. The two other issues are
growing more NOR, and and more prominent and
friendly diplomatic fashion-on all three.
Mexico Injccts Self.
Mexico has suddenly injected her
self into the situation, according to
advices here. by granting concessions
to a japanese corn corporation TO ex-
plot agricultural lands in Lower CAL
ifornia. The land in question is UNDER
stood to have been the property by
concession in 1884 of the Mexican land
company But the Mexican govern
| ment says this concession is now void
and the property belongs TO the gov
ernment. Two weeks ago. when it
| was reported that japanese interests
were trying to acquire tract of land
in Lower California from the Califor-
mia and Mexican Land company of
Los Angeles. the state department fndi-
Gated such a purchase by the Japs
| could not be viewed without concern
| and this was taken to be n friendly
| notice to the Mexican and japanese
| interest also BY forwarding and
publishing the senate resolution OF
| 1912 opposing the sale of any property
| by Americans to any nation which
might use the property as base from
| which to attack the United States-thc
| state department is believed TO have
| acted not merely to keep clear the
| skirts of American citizens.
| This government is trusting TO tho
| moderation and good judgment of the
| present japanese ministry TO prevent
| any straining of existing amicable re-
| lations, it can be stated authoritatively
| today.
| Japs SUmuIhfe Friction.
| Meantime. the lingo press of Japan,
| a few headstrong military leaders and
| other extremists outside the Toxic
government have tried to magnify and
stimulate some little friction, particu<
| larly in Siberia. Cable dispatches tos
day reported the Japanese war minis4
can troops in Siberia had refused Ia
| Bolsheviki, owing to an apparent dif<
ference in the respective Yankee and
japanese viewpoint as to what consfi-
tuted Bolshevist.
This difficulty-not regarded as re<
| rious here's understood to have its
inception in the refusal OF General
Graves. commander in chief OF the
Continued on Page Two.J