Evening star., 1920-07-14
JAPANESE PROTEST
PETITIONS T0L|M4
! PROPERTY RIGHTS
Unofficial Exchanges Take
Place Following Move in
California.

Unofficial exchanges already have
taken place on the situation in Cali
fornia- created by the circulation of
a petition looking to the amendment
of the existing state law 50 as to
limit further the rights of Japanese
to hold real property under leases.
Indications of the success of the
petition movement are understood to
have led to realization in official
circles here that soon there must
be negotiations of formal character
between the governments of the
United States and Japan with the
object of arriving at clearer un-
derstanding regarding the dlmcOit
issue growing out of the steady. even
though slow. increase of the Japanese
population in the Pacific coast states
IT is possible that the expected formai
negotiations may be deferred until
the state of California actually adopts
the restrictive measures proposed IN
the initiative petition. but 1t is not
doubted in official circles the nego-
tiations will promptly follow that
action.
Vigorous Protests Made.
Japanese in the United States and
Hawaii are said to be making Wig
orous protests against the applica-
tion of recently promulgated laws
relative to military obligations OF
foreign resident Japanese Tne new
lAws raised the military exemption
J
China or Siberia to thirty-seven
years and reduced the time which a
Japanese subject living outside the
three countries may spend In Japan
without becoming liable for military
service from half year to one
month.
The new laws do not affect japanese
born in foreign countries VINO re-
nounce their allegiance to the EN-
peror of Japan before reaching the
failing IN do
so. however, present the problem or
dual citizenship. as japanese born IN
this country become American SUD-
iects unless the citizenship is formal
" denied On account of that connict
and by reason of dissatisfaction with
the new Japanese law affecting citi-
zenship, Japanese in the United states
have sent to Toxic three representa-
tives of the Association of japanese
Living in America" to obtain IT pos
sible relief from the more stringent
provisions of the new laws
"Picture Brides" Question.
The Japanese-American representa-
tiyes who now. are in Toxic, accord
ing to the adv:ceS received here, claim
that since the majority of japanese
who revisit Japan do SO eItner 1or
business or marriage, one month is
too brief period TO accomplish
either satisfactorily without becom-
ing obligated for military service
They assert also that the present re-
strictions against picture brides in
this country have made it necessary
to select a wife in person in Japan
and zone month gives lnsumcient
time, while at thirty-seven one is TOO
old" Plans are being made, 1t IS re-
ported, to have the questions brought
up at the present session or the
Japanese diet.
The number of Japanese abroad was
estimated recently in figures pub
lished in Japanese newspapers and at
tributed to the foreign office as fol-
lows: United States, $4,000; HaWan'
If4. 900; Nanchuria, $4,000: China,
a elusive OF Manchuria, $4,000: Brazil,
81 900; Siberia, S,2s5, and Europe,
1877.
of the Japanese in the United States
At is estimated that 10000 are liable
Tor military service. In Hawah: "
lSe0 Japanese are reported already 70
Aye sent formal applications 10
for exemption from military
=Mrvice.
"A general movement among the
in the United States ana
to obtain discharge from
citizenship before reachlng
me prescribed age of seventeen Is SAID
10 have been noticed in official cir
1es here.