An Official Protest that Harm to Trade must Result Peking, Mar. 1.
The Ministry of Communications has telegraphed to General Chang Chung-chang, saying that it is reported that a goods tax is imposed in Pukow, where a tax office has been established in order to make a Tokyo, Feb. 27.
The Government has re-submitted the Diet the Alien Land-Ownership Law of 1910, which was never promulgated, amended to read that the right of owning land be granted to any resident, alien or registered alien body, except to the nationals of those countries which do not! grant similar rights to Japhnese Feb. 28, The Alien Land-Ownership Bill which the Government has submitted anew to the Diet conta provision ini each essential article that the Bill is applicable only by Imperial Edict. The main pr: visions of the Bill are as follows:- rights Fespect to land within "Article I—The possession of
the Empire by aliens, or corporations, of nations which prohibit oF impose conditions or limitations jupon the possession of rights with respect to land by Japanese subjects or juridical persons, may be pro-ied, or identical or similar conditions or limitations may imposed "on them by Imperi "Article IL—If more than one half of the officers, shareholders or office employees of Japanese or for-feign corporations is composed of aliens, or if more than half the capital or voting power of such corporations be owned by alien persons or alien corporations, such corporation shall in accordance with the provisions of the Imperial decree be regarded as being of the nationality of such aliens or alien corporation, and the provisions of the preceding article shall apply, mutatis mutandis.
"Article ILL—Sub-divisions of foreign countries possessing special rights of legislation with respect to land shall for the purposes of applying this Law be regarded as countries."
Articles IV and V exempt military arcus from foreign ownership.
Article VI provides that those who possess rights with respect to and, and who by this law are made ineligible, shall dispose of their holdings within one year, but in the ease of heirs and successors, with-levy on goods passing over the railway. The Ministry expresses its opinion that such a tax, particularly under the present conditions of trade, must badly affect not only trade' but the railway traffic. Thi Ministry invites General Chang's early attention to the matter—Reuter's. Pacific Servie for an Imperial lish the application regarded at safe the interests of foreign I, charitable and religious organizations.
Mar. 1.
During a debate la the Upper House on the Alien Land-Ownership Bill, the Minister of Justice said
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.