New-York tribune., 1920-12-26
Toxic Expects
New Treaty to
Kill Land Law
Uchida Announces Califor-
mia Leasing Ban Will Be
Overridden by Action of
the National Government
Votes Sought in Senate
Washington Is Amazed at
Story: Such a Result De-
clared To Be Impossible

TOXIC Dec. 25.-Addressing prelim-
mary meetings OF the Diet here yester-
dav, Viscount Uchida, the Foreign Min
lister, expressed the opinion that new
Japanese American treaty will be con-
cluoed leading 70 notification of the
California land law. He said he ex-
pected such action to result from the
negotiations which have been in prog
ress at Washington. between Ambassa-
dor Shidehara and Roland S. Morris,
United States Ambassador to Japan.
The ambassadors, he said. were max
ing efforts to obtain an understanding
with the Senate to secure passage of
the treaty He announced that in view
Of the sincerity with which they are
endeavorng t. solve the problem
Japan had refraned from protesting
against the California law, but that if
the negotiations should fail formal
protest would be lodged.
Hopes to Override State Law
Answering interpretations Mr. Uchida
said the negotiations were proceeding
on the understanding that such q treaty
would override The state laws.
The budget for the coming year was
presented at preliminary meetings in
the House of Peers. The naval ap-
propriations proposed amount to 499,-
10000 yen.
Diplomats, some of whom have had
much experience with Japan, have con-
tended for long time, as has been
told in The Tribune's Washington dis
patches. that Japans real object in
this whole controversy is not to
override the California land laws at
all, but merely to use them as lever
to get what she really wants. That is
the withdrawal of the American pro-
test against her occupation of the re-
naming half of Saghain Island. Also
she would like less American inter-
ference with her plans with regard to
China and Siberia.
Will Fight FOX saghalin
Japan Will fight before she will sur
render on Saghalin Island" one diplo-
mat told The Tribune correspondent
"She regards having that territory,
which i virtually a continuation of
the Japanese archipelago up along the
coast OF Asia, as vital to her national
existence. The Japanese want that
land for spi lway for their surplus
population. At home, as conditions
grow more crowded, dangers of inter
nal troubles are more serious than We
who Rave not been there can realize
Diplomats are of the opinion that
Japan will press her negotiations will
the State Department until the depart
ment is dramatically bankrupt. The
point out, will be that while obligec
to coAcede that Japan is being discrim-
mated against, simply and solely be
cause the Callfornians do not want the
Japanese and won't have them, the de-
partment also Will be helpless to compe
California to abandon this discrimina
tion.
This is an impossible position diplo
matically, because there is no preceden
In negotiations between or among ma
tons for a government to admit tnat il
Is even technically wrong and yet bs
unable to right that wrong.
From this embarrassment, the diplo
mats think, the japanese Will rescue tn,
department by blandly suggesting tina
they viii drop Their pr tests 4bou
California if the department will dro]
rs protests about Saghaiin I5land ant
the buffer states which Japan is plan
ming in Southern Siberia
From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec 25.-The Unitct
States Senate is firmly set against an,
action, either by law or by treaty
which would override the California
land laws. brief canvass to-day an,
tonight disclosed utter surprise tha
the Japanese should h..v any hon
for anything OF the sort, and nothin
short of amazement that Foreig
Minister Uch'd da should be SO misin
formed.
Half dozen Senator'S are ready t
talk until they drop rom physical ex
haustion, and to resort to everv pa,
Elementary expedient known to tn
practices of Senate hlibusters. to prt
vent anything of the sort, even if tl,
State Department should recommen
action overriding the State of Califo.
MIA.
Uchida's statement that Ambassadt
Morris and Ambassador Shidehara we1
ing with the Senate to secure passas
of the treaty" was declared by Sen,
tors to be an oNvious mist translation
error in transmission. I ney do not b
licve that Uchda would state such
thing officially. 1t was pointed out tn,
Ter Shidehara to turn his hand to sue
AZ activity would at once embroil hi
~ the same sort Of trouble in whe
Minister Bianchi, Of Guatemala, b.
game embroiled and which resulted
MS beng obliged TO apologize. Thel
was irritation even when an attache {
me british Embassy recently 70
waiced d newspaper clipping to Senate
helogg, instead Of sending it throug
State Department channels.
For an ambassador to attempt to i,
fucnce action by either House of Co,
g1ess IS almost ~ serious an otfens
from a diplomatic standpoint as Il
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