The citizen., 1920-08-12
QUARREL WITH
JAPAN LOOMING
CALIFORNIA MAY ADOPT DIS.
cRiMINAroRY LEGISLATION
IN NOVEMBER.
LAND OWNERSHIP THE ISSUE
Coast People Say Number Of orien.
tails There Is Increasing and That
the oentIemen's Agreement Is Being
Violated.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.

NashingtOn.-A diplomatic cOntro-
versy between the United States and
Japan Is threatened because Of the
possibility OF discriminatory legisla-
tion by the state of California against
the japanese residents.
Already Balnbridge Colby, secre-
tary Of state, has received representa-
tions from the japanese ambassador
here, and these are known to have
been purely Informal and only intend
ed to direct the attention of the Uni
ted States government to the Cal
lfornia situation. Legislation which
1t is proposed will be submitted to a
popular referendum at the California
election In November involves the Is
sue whether the japanese shall be
permitted to own land in that state.
Five separate propositions, each of
which hinges on land ownership, are
included in California proposals. First,
1t is proposed to prohibit land owner
ship by the japanese; second, to pro
hibit American-born japanese minors
from acquiring real estate; third. to
liOilpll Allt AiOili i''t'aiiS
any land; fourth. to prohibit the Jap
anese parents from being guardians
of their children's property; and fifth.
TO prohibit the japanese from owning
interest In corporations holding lana.
Gentlemen's Agreement VloIated2
Official Washington well under
stands that the United States gov
ernment can take no legal action, ex-
cept to suggest to the California state
officials that no legislation should be
enacted TO offend Japan. Violation
on the part of the state of the so
called gentlemen's agreement between
this country and Japan might lead to
difficulties between the two govern
ments. The gentlemen's agreement.
made in 1907, provides for the control
by Japan of japanese immigration to
this country. but the Callfornians
claim that II Is being violated in spirit
by the Toxic government and that
the influx OF japanese, with lower
standards OF living and incessant
work, is n menace to the native Amer
leans. Under the gentlemen's agree
ment, Japan agreed to issue passports
| to her laborers to enter territories con-
tiguous to the United States, and she
also recognized the right Of the United
States to deny entry to this country OF
Japanese laborers whose passports did
not include the continental United
States. Further, Japan agreed TO Is
sue passports to this country to Jap
anese of the following classes: Trav-
elers, business and professional men,
students and skilled workers laborers
and nonlaborers who had before 1907
lived In the United States; and Jap
anese who had acquired farms In the
United States and wished to return
to this country TO take active charge
Of their property.
Effort to obtain official and accurate
data on the japanese question on the
| Pacific coast is now being made by
the immigration committee of the
house of representatives. Headed by
Congressman Albert Johnson of Wash
ington. the committee is conducting
its Investigations, including public
hearings in California, attention being
centered In that state because Of the
proposed discriminatory state legisla-
| tfon