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THE JAPA1:SE BRLTIONS KLIFWU
MAKE STATEENT TO THE PEOPL3 0F CALIFORNIA IN
COWGi:CT IN WITM THE
INITATA E AI1DING
THE ALIEN IAND LAW OF 1913.
"The T&Panese. Relations Conmittee of California desires to make the following frank statement to the people of California in connection with the proposed initiative amending the Alien
LandLaw of 1913.
"This Committee, has studied the whole question of American-
Japanese Relations for several years and has discussed. all angles of the Japanese-American problem with a similar, committee in Japan with the idea of bringing out all of the elements involved in the most friendly spirit possible.
"The Committee desires at this time to state the results of these conferences with a clear statement of the probLems involved, and its convictions as to the best solution,
"First:
The greatest hinderance ta friendly relations; between Japan and the United States is the increasing number of permanent Japanese residents..
The Japanese are ineligible to citizenship and do not assimilate with our people.
The so-called *Gentlements Agreement"' wa the development of such a permanent
to prevent
but however faithfully observed has not preventedthe rapid growth of
Japanese colonies in California.
This Committee is strongly of the conviction that tnie presence and development in california of a permanent population non-asaimilable and ineligible to citizenship would be an unwise
for either nation, and is in itself a cause of great friction.
Negotiations are now in

-2progress to establish effective checks to any further immigration.
There is, every prospect that such arrangements will
be made.
If they are not successful rigid exclusion legislation with all its inpending difficulties is inevitable.
'tEecona: Ownership of Agricultural Lands
-
Locally in
California large tracts of agricultural land have been obtained by the Tapanese.
The State passed ar Alien Land Law Bill in
1913 prohibiting further ownership of agricultural lands by those ineligible to citizenship This law has not, been effective and the present initiative is designed to make its provisions more drastic, This Gommittee believes in the undoubted right of the State to regulate the ownership of its land, but regard the present initiative as ineffective anm
and will merely have an
result creating needless animosity without reaching its objective.
Particular objection is to be found in the clausBe prohibiting leasing and the harsh pro-visiens of the clause depriving Japanese parents of the right of guardianship.
The use of the initiative for such a purpose
unwise and arouses unnecessary prejudice in the popular mind.
The dangers of land ownership would be greatly minimized if proper immigration regulations were made and inasmuchas international relations are involved in this: form of state legislation it were wise to make the whole a subject oQ an *Micable treaty between the United States and Japan
the right to ovn agricultural
by the citizens of either country residing in the other.
recognize the great
which
Japan itself faces in
for its
of population in a limited areaWe also realize that
has great problems

-3in adjusting herself to present vorlci conditions.
We believe the fundamental policy of both countries should be friendly, ab' cooperative to the largest possible
and that the
United States should be most helpful to Japan and recognize the great contribution which Japan is able to make to world civilization and trade.
therefore, believe that such methods es are involved in the present initiative which unnecessarily express antagonisr should be avoided and that the national government should be brought to the full realization of the Calif ocnia situation.
When the proper negotiations have been made which will eliminate by mutual agreement the
causes of friction between our countries the way will be open to deal with the lapanese now lawfully in the country, not only justly but generously.
4For these reasons we a e opposed to the adoption of the present initiative and look forward to the effective dealing wita the whole
'by the two governments concerned ,"

"The Japanese Relations Committee of California desires to make the following frank statement to the people of California in connection with the proposed initiative amending the Alien
Land Law of 1913.
"This Committee has studied the whole question of American-
Japanese Relations for several years and has discussed all angles of the
problem with a similar committee in Japan with the idea of bringing out all of the elements involved in the most friendly spirit possible.
"The Committee desires at this time to state the results of these conferences with a clear statement of the problems involved and its convictions as to the best solution.
"0First: Iiamigration The greatest hinderance to friendly relations between Japan and the United States is the increasing number of permanent Japanese residents.
The Japanese are ineligible to citizenship and do not assimilate with our people.
The so-called "gentlemen's agreement" was designed to prevent the development of such a permanent population, but however faithfully
has not prevented the rapid growth of
Japanese colonies in California.
This
is strongly of the
that the presence and development in California of a permanent population non-assimilable and ineligible to
would be an unwise
for either nation, and is in itself a cause of great friction.
Negotiations are now in progress to establish effective checks to any further immigration.
There is every prospect that such arrangements will

-2-shortly be made.
If they are not successful
legislation with all its
difficulties is inevitable.
"Second: Ownership of Agricultural Lands Locally in
California large tracts of
land have been obtained by the
The State passed an Alien Land Law Bill in
1913 prohibiting further ownership of
lands by those ineligible to citizenship.
This law has not been effective and the present initiative is
to make its provisions more drastic.
Committee believes in the undoubted right of the State to regulate the ownership of
but regards the present initiative as ineffective and futile and will merely have an irritating result creating needless animosity without reaching its objective.
Particular objection is to be found in the clause prohibiting leasing and the harsh
of the clause depriving Japanese parents of the right of guardianship.
The use of the initiative for such a purpose is unwise and arouses unnecessary
in the popular mind.
The dangers of land ownership would
greatly minimized if proper immigration regulations were made and inasmuch as international relations are involved in this form of state
it were wise to make the whole a subject of an amicable treaty between the United States and Japan
limiting the right to own agricultural lands, by the
of either:
in the other.
recognize the great
which
itself faces in providing for its rapid
of popula-

-5tion in a limited area.
We also
Japan has great problems in adjusting herself to present world conditions.
'We believe the fundamental policy of both countries -should be friendly and cooperative to the largest possible degree and that the
United States should be most helpful to Japan and recognize the great contribution which Japan is able to make to world civilization and trade.
We,
believe that such methods as are involved in the present initiative which unnecessarily express antagonism should be avoided and that the national government should be brought to the Lull
of the California situation.
When the proper negotiations have been made which will eliminate by mutual agreement the present causes of friction between our countries the way will be open to deal with the Japanese now
in the country, not only justly but
"For these reasons we are opposed to the adoption of the present
and look forward to the effective dealing with the whole question by the two governments concerned."