The Washington herald., 1920-07-05
US. TOTACKLE
JAP PROBLEM
Effort to Prevent Tension
Over Coast Colonization
VIII Be Made.
RECALLS BRYAN ACTION
Third Attempt to Clear Cali
fomia Situation Up to
President.
RECALLS BRYAN ACTION
CPubllc Ledger service.)

came known yesterday, will make
an effort, for the third time in Its
career, to prevent tension in Ameri-
can-Japanese relations over the
question of Asiatic colonization on
the Pacific Coast. {.
Theoretically the first step by
the government awaits receipt Of
letter fom Gov. Stephens, of Cali
fornia. which was made public June
22. but in actuality officials already
have begun to prepare the case to
be presented to the people of Cali
fornia from an international stand
point.
The seeming mystery in the fall
ure of the letter OF the California
governor to reach the State Depart
ment has been explained by the in
timation that Gov. Stephens held
il in order to take up the matter
personally with cambridge Colby,
Secretary of State. during the lat
ter's presense in San Francisco for
the Democratic national convention.
The meeting between Mr.. Colby
and Gov. Stephens. although Ii may
serve to clarity the situation by
enabling the Secretary of State to
get the viewpoint of the citizens
of the Pacific Coast while impart-
ing the obstacles which stand in
the way as Washington sees II.
cannot result in any decision as
to this governments attitude.
President to Decide.
Decision in the matter rests ulti-
mately in the hands of the Presi-
dent and his cabinet. and officials
so far have hesitated to even dis
cuss the possibilities of the situa-
ton because it has never been
broached at a meeting of the Pres
ident and his advisers.
Precedent in the matter is clear.
nevertheless. William Jennings
Bryan during his term as Secretary
Of State. made n personal trip TO
California to appear before the leg
islature of the State and urge the
rejection of a bill denying Japan
ese the right of owning property.
His action follwed extended corre-
spondence with the Japanese gov
ernment in which the Tokyo diplo-
mats pointed out that although
they had accepted the Asiatic ex-
clusicn law, despite the storm OF
protest that it caused in Japan.
passage of the proposed California
Legislation could not be regarded
by Japan in any other light than
violation OF its treaty rights and
a gratuitous insult to its sovereign
ty. Mr.. Bryan's presentation of the
case before the California legisla-
ture led to defeat of the proposed
measure.
Again when Robert Lansing was
Secretary of state the question of
anti-Japanese legislation was
brought to the front as a domestic
issue in California, and once more
postponed. due to the representa-
tions of Mr.. Lansing that any such
action on the part of the Pacific
Coast State would elnbarrass the
negotiations which the United
States was carrying Ou at the Peace
Conference.
Question to be Taken Up.
The issue this time will come ub
for direct action by the people
through initiative petitions and en-
braces the question Of adopting
legislation that would prevent ia
panese ownership of property.
The California viewpoint as II
will be presented to Secretary Colby
and members of the House immigra-
ton committee that are TO hold
hearings on the subject along the
coast will be that the Japanese
have consistently found ways and
means of evad!ng the present i'm
migration laws and that the in
crease of Japanese population
IN California is becoming a menace
to tie life OF the State. The apEar-
ent desire for legislation in CaJifor-
mia III fact goes beyond the adop-
tiOE of the land law put before the
voters and calls for additional re-
striCtive action by the government
to prevent -he entry of any Jap
sncse in the future.
The position of Japan as learned
in Diplomatic circles here is that
the japanese, while willing to rec
ognize the exclusion act. cannot
without protest sanction additional
legislation regarded in Japan as
discriminatory. and cCnfiscatory
The letter of Gov. Stephens has Gre
ate i a storm in Japan that finds
reflection in all of the press. Com
mert varies in tone but Is unani-
nous in condemnipg the contem-
plated action Of the citizens Of Cal
ifornia. The YCrozu. one of the most
violent. is quoted in cable advices
rs saying that the anti-Japancse
fever in America is rising more and
:ncra and tho pressure OF tyranny
and persecution is daily increasing
against the JaTarCse in America"
The Tokyo Nichi Nichi is more
reasonable.
Agitation GATHERS Force.
Despite the effort of noble
c1inded Americans like Mr.. Wander
ZIP and his company" says this pa
per. ito promote Japanese american
friendship, the aEti-Japanese agi-
tation in California Is gathering
more force than ever. The Californ-
mans would dc anything IL only to
shut out the japanese. California
would ignore treaties and agree
ments and rob japanese of every
sthing. The State is putting a blot
m the good name of America. and
forcing a serious development be-
TWEEN america and Japan. If Cali
f>rria Is to pass the bill now be-
ing promoted by anti-Japanese
leaders to rob Japanese of every
thing. life would become impossi-
ole in California for Japs nese. Cam
not California be persuaded to re-
f.ect treaties and bow to dictates
II reason and jrstice?"
The Chuo gays:
The anti-JGpanese agitation is a
calendar affair IT California. Only
Il may he moro vic lent this year
than at other times owing to the