Evening star., 1921-01-19
OPPOSES JAPANESE
CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS
California Legislature Sends
Formal Protest to Three
Sources Here.

Formal protest by the legislature Of
the state Of California has been made
to President Wilson, the Secretary Of
State and the Senate Of the United
States against any treaty being made
between Japan and this country
whereby the rights Of citizenship shall
be extended to the subjects Of Japan.
The protest comes in the midst Of the
pending negotiations between the two
governments on the question.
Strong objection is urged against
THE PROPOSED treaty nultifying the
alien land acx OF Cslifornia, adopted
by that state 1ast 1Noveniber. ff1t 10
an act OF tho legislature but by direct
Sate ~ the people Of the. corun1on-
wealth at the polls, under the initia-
tive and refereudum law. The ma
5oritys dn favor Of the act was over.
wheiming. 3
California's protest. lodged by the
legislature with the federal treaty
making and ratifying powers calls
attention to the treaty Of 1911 between
Japan and the United States which
restricted Japanese entering the
United States to traders and travellers.
100000 In California.
Notwithstanding the provision Of
the treaty limiting the purposes fof
which subjects OF Japan may enter,
travel and reside in the United
States" the protest goes or to say,
approximately 100000 Japanese are
now residing in California, compare
lively few -ef whom are engaged in
trade, while the great majority are
engaged In agriculture, owning, leas-
ing and farming lands and now con-
troll one-eighth Of the entire acreage
Of rich irrigated lands 81 the state as
shown by Official report Of the state
board Of CONTROL
The protest declares that "Japanese
as well as American authorities con-
oede the unassimilability of the two
races and grant that continuance Of
existing conditions may develop a ra.
cial question and grave international
complications out OF the present eco
nomic problem"
It is asserted that "the evidence
before the House immigration COM
mittee In hearings held on the Pa
cific coast In July and August. 1920,
clearly indicates the impracticabiiity
citizenship out Of the material COM
ing to US from japan and the impos-
sibility Of a white community hold
ing its own against the racial advan-
tages and high birth rate Of the
Japanese"
Prohibits Further InMieration,
In addition to insisting that moth
ing in the treaty to be negotiated
shall nullify the alien land act, the
california legislature demands that
the treaty shall prohibit further I'M
migration from Japan except mer-
| chants, students, teachers and their
servants and employees.
The communication from the leRfs.
lature makes the point that the pro-
posed treaty. If drafted along the lines
demanded by japan. would violate
rights of all the states to enact legts.
llation respecting the acquisition and
Ownership of land within their bor-
ders by aliens, and would be destruc-
tive Of states rights reserved under
the Constitution of the United States.
Senator johnson of California pre-
sented the Communication of the
Legislature to the Senate, and the
legislative officials have sent copies to
President Wilson. the Secretary Of State
and to each member Of the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations.