Evening star., 1923-11-15
JAPANESE RESENT
LAND. LAW RULING
Sure to Intimate Strong
Feeling on Recent Supreme :
Court Case.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

1t Is foregone conclusion that the
Japanese government will make rep
resentations to the United States re-
garding the recent Supreme Court
decision declaring Japanese aliens
ineligible to own or lease land in
California. The full text of the de-
cfsion is about to be cabled to the
foreign office at Toxic. The fact
that 1t was not unexpected will not
lessen Japanese disappointment over
It, this writer Is Informed in an
authentic quarter. Resentment. 1t ts
felt, Is bound to be promptly ex-
pressed. Public opinion in Japan is
certain to compel the Mikado's gov
ernment to take matters up at Wash
ington with a view to remedial action.
Diplomatic steps will be hastened.
and perhaps. be OF little more
urgent character. IL threats lust
uttered by Ulysses s. Webb. attorney
general of California, are carried out.
Mr.. Webb declares that the Supreme
court decree authorizes California to
eVict all Japanese land proprietors
or tenants who now are In the posi-
ton OF occupying California soil
Illegally. Former United States
Senator James D. Phelan voices sim
liar sentiments. "The Japanese in
California" he says. must now take
day labor or get out"
Japan mas made no attempt 10 con-
states In connection with the Cali
1ornia land laws. The Japanese peo-
pie look upon them as an intolerabIe
aHront TO their racial and national
pride; They now flnd themselves in
see ,sno6le situation Of country
under sanction of the highest legal
tribunal In the republic. place an
embargo not imposed against any
nfth-rate nation in the world. Japan,
her spokesmen say. would not object
origin. What the Japanese resent
is having finger leveled at them that
Is not pointed at bolshevik Russians,
Liberians, Haitians, Patagonians or
Eskimos. An impression prevails in
the United States that Japan itself
discriminates against alien land own
ers along Californian lines. Nippon
does prohibit foreigners from owning
land. but the restriction hits all
aliens and not a particular set Of
them.
Hanlhara Saw Clouds.
In his maiden speech In America,
shortly after he took up his duties
at Washington. Ambassador Hanf-
hara Con May 18th last) asserted
that the treatment of Japanese al
ready in this country (meaning main
ly those on the Pacific coast) was the
one question likely to disturb the
friendly relations between the two
countries. Mr.. Hanihara limited that
the discriminatory action represented
by the California laws Is a violation
Of the fundamental laws governing
international intercourse. Until that
cloud Is removed from Japanese
American skies. the ambassador tntI-
mated, the possibility Of disturbance
would continue to exist.
The Japanese government Is not in
position, according to the proprfeties
Of diplomatic procedure, to protest
formally against Supreme Court de-
cision Affecting purely domestic
American affairs. Such Representa-.
tions, therefore, as Toxic eyentualIy
makes at Washington will not be
couched in the form of a compIaint
They are likely. the writer has reason
to- believe. to be along suxaestiye
.lines--to point out, In courteous
terms. that the United States may md
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