NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE segregation of Japanese school-children in separate Asiatic schools in San Francisco has led to an important diplomatic correspondence between Tokio and Washington. Mr. Root has described the incident as purely local, and declares that the United States Government will always treat the Japanese in the same way as the people of the most friendly European nations. This, however, is not the view of California, and it is difficult to see by what power the Central Government Can coerce her into a different policy. The matter is being carried to the Federal Courts, and the question is whether the action of the education authorities conflicts with the Treaty rights of Japan. If the Courts decide against California, it is said that there is a danger of anti-Japanese riots and a boycott in San Francisco. We can well imagine that even with the decision of the Courts in their favour the American Government will find it a most difficult and invidious task to bring California to reason. Japan has' taken the affair in the beet Spirit, realising at once the good intentions and the helplessness of the United States Government; but the whole incident is a significant lesson in the faults of the (American Constitution. When States can assert themselves 'against the nation on a matter in which the gravest issues of foreign policy are involved, some reform in the direction of strengthening the National Government seems to be urgently needed.
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