New-York tribune., 1920-06-10
Utter Ignorance of State
Department Has Created
a Critical international
Situation, He Declares
u. S. Indifferent
To the Far East
H0vernment Attitude on
California Land Bill Is
the Cause of Hostility

The utter ignorance in the State De-
tartment Of problems vitality affecting
che friendly relations between Japan
and the United States has created a
serious international situation, accord
ing to Frank A. Vanderlip, who re-.
turned to his home at Scarborough yes-
terday, after two months in the Orient.
At the invitation of the Welcome
Committee, an organization Of iuhuen
tial Japanese headed by Baron Shibu-
sawa, Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderlip and nine
other Americans and their wives sailed
from Seattle on April 10 for Japan for
the purpose of holding a series of un
omc1al conferences on points of inter
NATIONAL friction The talks we're
startlingly candid.
Aroused by Land Bill
The Americans found that the peo-
pie Of Japan are aroused over a bit of
anti-Japanese legislation which is be-
ing agltated for passage in California
oy means of the initiative. 1t is a land
ownership bill directed at Japanese
residents of Senator Johnson's state
that is more drastic than others that
have disturbed the relations between
the two nations in the past
This bill. which is not before the
Legislature of California but which
through the Initiative would be passed
on directly by the voters, provides
tnat american born Japanese children
who own land IN California may not
nave this property controlled by their
parents until they become of age, but
aiust submit to public guardian
ship
"A group of Californians came to
Washington recently to discuss the
proposed law with the State Depart
hlent,' said Mr.. Vanderlip last night
They have reported back that there
was nothing on file at the State Depart
ment regarding this initiative law
that the State Department knew moth
ing whatever of the proposal. This is
situation .,m the japanese feel very keenly.
There is entire ignorance of the
California situation in Washington,
and this is true OF everything connect
I'd with the Eastern problem. This
thing is very serious. 1t could be
avoided absolutely if we should go at it
courteously
Conferences in Toxic
1T is in the Washington method of
handling our foreign relations that the
trouble lies. The State Department is
Indifferent to Japan and the East.
We were in conference a week in
Toxic, meeting daily. In candid talks
We discussed the immigration problem,
Shsntung. Siberia, Korea, Manchuria
and Mongolia. and there also was some
discussion OF cable facilities. These
are unbelievably poor and create
situation that is more than CONNER
cal problem. An ordinary cable mes
sage is likely to be ten days in trans
mission
7On our side, of course. the confer
erees were unofficial. For the Japa-
nese members the meetings were al
most official, for they were constantly
ID touch with their government lead
efs and Elder Statesmen. After the
conferences | had talks with the Primo
Ainsstcr, the Minister of Foreign AT
fairs, Sc ne of the Elder Statesmen and
others
I'VE found that the Japanese wanted
10 discuss the California question,
winch is not in their minds an immi-
grafton problem. 1t is question o.
inc treatment accorded japanese living
"a California. The ant-Japanese have
MS initiative law before the people
and are working for its passage and
u is offensive 10 the Japanese people
Washington Indifference
The Japanese feel that they have
met the immigration problem to our
sa.isfaction III the gcntlcmen's agree
hent and they assured US it was their
'ltention 70 continue to observe this
Mr1puiousiy. They also have met our
OBJECTIONS to picture brides by stop
pag this practice.
I think they would meet any de-
hand from the United States, IL they
Hess approached in a courteous way by
t1r government. But our government
Faxes no demands and no requests.
opr State Department is Indifferent
toward them.
from our side we explained that to
tcentisaed on page ssvee)
rfs