Acting on the supposition that the Article was aimed against the anti-Japanese land law in California~- 'a supposition which was naturally accepted here and abroad—Mr. [Tsutsumi contended that such a arlier days; but clause number one f the law does not go into effect ut remains in the law. It reads as allows: trial asngn, phone nis cua one pte rer ae kao measure could not be taken as a dignified way of protesting against the anti-Japanese legislation abroad, especially in California, and fa-youred its elimination from the law.
He that such a retaliatory} method was usually adopted among other nations, but that Japan should uphold higher international moral ty, Mr, Tsutsumi continued:
'A Doubtful Measure The reservation under which the! apanese government may retaliate pon the citizens of ry legislating agai wnerthip of land, appears to be a matter for regret among a good nary Japanese and certainly robs legislation of a certain good favour which, otherwise, would ang around it for all time to come; cause freed from this retaliatory mrisiation the now law would have cen regarded as most. excellently epresenting the good statesmanship ud good example of Japan. Indeed, would have had all the good effect fouls of five. As itis the new law thought by the Japanese lewislaors who oppose the clause of re-aviation be practically useless as a reply to the San Franciscans who ave pointed to Japan's prohibition f alien land ownership as a good meuse for reciprocal action on the art of the State of Californi rideed, many Japanese think th jause'1 will do more harm than ood.
Very few foreigners as individuals ye the owners of land in Japan and and is not bought except for Church, dueational or hospital purpose nies in a few—a very few, cases speculation, The Alien Land Law of 1925 was rst presented to the House of Pears n February 27, the game year, and ras adopted by that House wit' ttle modifiention, on March 16, he vevised meastire was refered the House of Representatives on he same day and the first Read-ug was held the next day. In ex laining the measure, Mr, Heikich awa, the then Minister of Justice eclated that conditions in the counry no longer required a law deny-ug land ownership to foreigner hat the restrictions on such owner hip contained in the Alien Li aw of 1916 were not necessary; nid that the new law was dzafte completely on a new basis.
"Land was created by the Almighty for the enjoyment of all people ard all races. Any discrimination against any nationality regarding land ownership should be condemned violation of justice and humanity,. Should any nation deny this divine right to our people, what we shot do it is to lodge @ solemn protest against that nation; not that we resort to similar injustice."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.