Resume of the Controversy Between Japan and the United States Arising Out of the California Question / Kashu mondai ni kansuru nichibei kosho tenmatsu

[Tokyo]: Gaimusho tsushokyoku daisanka, 1920. First Edition. A bilingual pamphlet detailing the origins of and the official Japanese response to the 1913 Alien Land Law passed in California. The law prohibited foreigners who were not eligible to obtain citizenship from purchasing land or entering into leases longer than three years. It applied almost entirely to Asian immigrants, who were barred from becoming naturalized American citizens.

This book opens with a brief introduction and the text of the California law, followed by the texts of the official protests made by the Japanese government to officials in Washington, DC, along with the American diplomatic responses. The Japanese protests are refreshingly narrative and detailed rather than legalistic in style. Among the American respondents is William Jennings Bryan, acting in his official capacity as Secretary of State in the Woodrow Wilson administration.

18, [2], 58, [1] (English), 79 (Japanese) pages.

OCLC: 835810960 (Waseda); 840108220 (National Diet Library), 44716908 (Trinity College). NB: 4216338 has the same title but only 28 pages. First edition (first printing). Covers foxed and spotted, spine ends a bit chipped, else very good.