Japanese Cannot Lease Yakima Land

WASHINGTON, Saturday, March 4. Secretary Fall, replying to an inquiry from a Japanese association of Wapato, Wash., regarding the opportunity of its members leasing land in the Yakima Indian Reservation, declared all Indian agents had been notified that leases must be confined to American citizens, with veterans of the World War being given the preference.

The announcement of the Interior Department's policy was made in a telegram to W.K. Hirano, president of the Yakima Japanese Association of Wapato, who had asked what would be the attitude of the department regarding leasing of the Yakima Indian Reservation land to Japanese farmers.

Mr. Hirano in his telegram stated that thirty-two leases held by Japanese had already expired, that within the next two years a hundred more would expire, and that the Japanese lease holders wanted to know their future status.