New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Johnson Calls
For Details OF
Japanese act
Senator Tells Colby People
Of West Have a Right to
knew What Disposition
Ii Made OF Their Lands
Secretary Refuses Facts
Declares Californian Cam
NOT DO Ghost Dance
With Him as, a Partner

From The Tribunals Wdsbsn0ton BageuB
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81. - Senator
Hiram Johnson, of California, to-day
called on Secretary of State Colby to
disclose the nature of the agreements
with Japan made by Ambassadors Nor
ris and Shidehara as result of their
discussion of the California alien land
laws. The Senator declared the COM
tents Of the report of Ambassador Nor
ris were all important, and the people
Of the West were entitled to know what
the report contained. This was his re-
ply to the comment of the Secretary of
State to the effect that Senator john
sons previous comment on the agree
ments was Erroneous assumption"
Secretary Colby, on being shown the
statement Of Senator Johnson, denied
there was any secretiveness on the part
of the department., said he would not
be DETECTED from his course by any
statement or interview, and would not
do "ghost dance" with Senator john
son.
senator Johnson SAID:
"The Secretary of State says that my
comment upon the tentative agreements
made by Ambassadors Shidehara and
Morris is based upon an erroneous as
sumption and that the dangers which
| suggest do not present themselves in
these agreements. My comment was
induced by press reports purporting TO
cmanate from authentic sources. From
these stated a treaty had been tenta-
lively agreed upon which in effect re-
pealed the California alien land laws.
The Secretary Of State says, in sub
stance, this is not so. Either the press
reports are erroneous or Mr.. Colby is
misinformed. i am constrained to- be-
lieve that Mr.. Colby is in error.
People Entitled to Facts
'But controversy between the Sec
retary of State and myself as to what
is contained in the report of Ambassa-
dor Morris is of no consequence. The
contents of the report are all impor-
tant. MI. Colby has the report The
people of the West, to whom this sub
ject is of paramount Importance, are
entitled to know what that report con-
tains. Yesterday it was discussed at
length in Japan. Our people should not
have to await its details through Japan
ese news channels.
ut is not sufficient that the repre-
sentatives from California or the For
eign Relations Committee, under a
promise of secrecy, should finally know
what disposition is intended to be made
Of the agricultural lands of California
and. other Western states. The people
of these Western states are entitled to
and I'D fo !
The grave question here is not
whether am right in saying that a
treaty has been presented which in
effect repeals our alien land laws, or
whether Mr.. Colby is right in saying
that no such draft of a treaty has been
presented. The matter is far beyond
any personal controversy The ques-
tion is, What has been done on the
subject in which the West is most in
terested and which most intimately
concerns the Vests future? And the
West should be told forthwith"
Colby Answers Senator
"ff Senator Johnson wants to do q
ghost dance on this proposition he has
got to do without me as a partner"
Secretary Colby declared tonight after
reading the statement Of Senator John.
lson.
Eve have been handling this matter
in way that seems to be correct, ade-
quate and proper, and / cannot let
our considered and careful negbtia-
tions be DETECTED by any statement, or
interview or anything else. The re-
sponsible members Of the Senate know
that we are doing what is right. 1t
is an important discussion which is in
strict conformity with the usual media
of exchange. Ne political or oratoricaI
exigencies will make as depart from
our rational course. There is no
secretiveness here. It is matter that
cannot be settled in a covert manner.
hera.ts 3 3. II,