The Mena weekly star., 1921-02-03
JOHNSON ATTACKS
 PROPOSED TREATY
Says Agreement With Japan Will Nullify California Law--secre- tary Colby Has no Answer
 West Will Resist.

Washington, Jan. 29.-0pen attack lon the proposed agreement between Japan and the United States as to tie status of Japanese in this coun- try was made by Senator Johnson of california today in statement criti- eising what he said is provided fc~ in the tentative plan worked out here by Ambassador Shidehara and Morris.
 The plan now is before the two gov ernments, and has not been made pubic in Washington or Toklo. Sen ator Johnson declared, however, on the basis of statements from author itative sources" as to it's provisions that it's result would be continuance of Japanese immigration and increase in the Japanese population in the vest
 Secretary Colby, who conferred during the day with President Wilson, refused to make casual" answer to the senator's statements. The Japan ese agreement, he said, has not been discussed during the White House conference, and he added that Sena- tor Johnson, while undoubtedly sim ecre,v was proceeding from num- Der of erroneous assumption" in what he said.
 Mir. Colby has just finished reading l the draft agreement submitted by Ambassador Morris The two ambas- sadors completed it during his recent visit to South America.
 West Will Resist"
 Senator Johnson said the plan would in effect "abrogate and de- stroy" the alien land law recently voted the people of California. It would, also, he said, provide as to Japanese exclusion for another "so- called gentleman's agreement which does not exclude" Such a situation, the California senator said, was ''in- tolerable,r and he added: "Consum- nation of such plan will be resist ed
 Senator Johnson's statement fol- lows:
 From authoritative sources it is state that the agreement between Ambassadors Shidehara and Morris embraces: CD An exchange of diplo- natic notes defining passport regula- tions, etc, which would tighten up the present sgentlemen's agreement" relating to exclusion of Japanese from this country; and (2) a treaty defining the rights of the nationals of each country which will in effect abro- i gate and destroy the alien land laws lof the state of California Stripped of diplomatic camouhage this means that our representative and Japan's have agreed to repeal the land laws passed by the state of California and to prohibit the passage of those contemplated by many other Western states.
 Means No Exclusion. i Japan has insisted upon the control Iof Der own people and therefore will mot agree to an exclusion treaty. but will enter into n so-caIled gentle, mems agreement which does not ex. lclude. The new "gentlemen's agree ment," notwithstanding it's addition al phases, can be just as loosely ad nainistered as the present one, anC just as in the case of the present "gentlemen's agreement" it will b. honored more in the breach than 1T Ithe observance. The result will bt under the suggested arrangement If adopted continuance of Japaness Immigration and increase in the Jan anese population in the west.
 Upon the meager facts now be l fore us, the situation appears to bs this: Japan does not like an Ameri can law and Japan protects that law Resort was not had to American courts but to American diplomats lThe protest is deemed of sufficien l gravity for American diplomats t, lagree to q treaty exactly as desired by Japan. This by short cut, with out participation by thoe4 most in terested repeals laws ssed afte- due deliheration Jaws admittedl, within the Jurisdiction of the stat, Epassing them, with cannot justly giv, | offense and upon q subject of para mount importance to the present well | being and future existence of thi state
 .Of course situation of this sor ilS intelerable. and l think I voice tn, sentiment of California when l sa, that in every legitimate and lega fashion the consummation of such lplea win be resisted"