ANTI-ALIEN LEGISLATION AMERICA AND JAPAN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 57, 9 March 1915, Page 2

ANTI-ALIEN LEGISLATION AMERICA AND JAPAN.

(FROM OUR O'iTN CORnBSPONDHiI.) SAN FRANCISCO, 12th February. In this year of international su>rm there will be no further complication of the situation by the passage of antialien legislation in California directed against Japan. Two years ago the Legislature' of this State seriously disturbed the diplomatic relations between the United^ States and Japan by adopting legislation, the effect of which was to debar Japanese from owning land in California. The Mikado's Government was sorely hurt that such a thing should happen in America, and ever since there have been diplomatic exchanges between the two Governments. The law, however, still stands, and no attack upon its validity has been made in the Courts or otherwise. In that law is a clause permitting Japanese to lease lands in California for a period of three years. Some of the more bitter anti-Japanese spirits in the Legislature a few days ago introduced a measure to eliminate this leasing proviso from the Act. Governor Johnson, who primarily was responsible for the passage of the law against landowning by certain classes of aliens, including Japanese, has pronounced himself against the proposed amendment to the law, and inasmuch as he is devotedly followed by a large majority of both Houses, there is no probability of the relations between this nation and Japan being again jeopardised by agitation of the subject. Governor /Johnson told the members of the Legislature : "This year there is no occasion for further action. No valid reason exists why our Alien Land Bill passed with so much difficulty two years ago should now be presented to the Legislature for amendment, and there are many reasons why it should not. It is my hope, and to this end so far as "I consistently can I will lend my aid, that the existing law be not disturbed."