William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson

William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

WWP17863

1913 July 1

William Jennings Bryan sends Woodrow Wilson amendments form Moore about the Alien Land Tenure Bill.

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

My dear Mr. President

When I sent you my letter yesterday afternoon in regard to the Japanese matter, I had not received the amendments from Mr. Moore. I beg to enclose them at this time.
The first amendment is a substitute for that part of the answer which relates to the question of naturalization. The part to be stricken out is the last three lines on page ten, all of pages eleven and twelve, and the first five lines on page thirteen. This postpones for future consideration the question of naturalization.
The second amendment is a very short one, and is added at the end of the fourth line on page fourteen. This, as you will see, incorporates the idea suggested by Ambassador Guthrie. If you approve of it, the answer to the point in regard to damages will be that “this Government stands ready to compensate him (the Japanese subject) for any loss which he might be shown to have sustained or even, in order to avoid any possible allegation of injury, to purchase from him his lands at their full market value prior to the enactment of the statute.” With assurances of respect, etc., I am, my dear Mr. President,The President,The White House.1st Amendment substitute for part on naturalization commencing at bottom of page 10 In connection with the question of land ownership Your Excellency refers to the subject of naturalization in the United States; and in this relation I observe Your Excellency’s statement that “Japanese subjects are, as a nation, apparently denied the right to acquire American nationality.” Your Excellency further declares that the provisions of law, under which it is held that Japanese are not eligible to American citizenship, “are mortifying to the government and people of Japan, since the racial distinction inferrable from those provisions is hurtful to their just national susceptibilities.” I gladly assume that Your Excellency, in saying that Japanese subjects are “as a nation” denied the right to acquire American nationality, has not intended to convey the impression that the naturalization laws of the United States make any distinction that may be specifically considered as national either in terms or in effect. I am also happy to observe that Your Excellency very properly acknowledges the fact that the question of naturalization “is a political problem of national and not international concern.” For this reason I infer that Your Excellency is not instructed to press the matter; and I will therefore forbear to enter into an extended discussion of the question, unless the Imperial Government should hereafter indicate its desire to renew the consideration of it.

Very sincerely yours,
WJ Bryan


On page 14, after the word “sustained” in the 4th line, add: “or even, in order to avoid any possible allegation of injury, to purchase from him his lands at their full market value prior to the enactment of the statute.”

Letter

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924