New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-24
Japan Enters the Great War Under
"Iocalization" Pledges.

NOT sct On tie territory Of her foes. Japan pre-
sopted an ultimatum in Berlin week ago yes'e''
dav which threatened war. Germany could not
occede 70 the demands made in It without sune'-
ING national humiliation and she did not accede
70 them. Japan has therefore dcawn the SWORD
and nerpn hostities against Germany In I'm
,,od field and for a single political and mintar!
purpose
We do not believe that the terms Of her treaty
~ alliance with Great Britain compelled Japan 20
take sides against Germany. As we pointed out
o., ,bo time the japanese ultimatum was sent
British interests in the Orient are not now I'M
,orilled bv any forces which Germany has ID 'n"'
Quarter Of the world. The British French ana
u,ss,on naval souadrons are far superior to the
German Asiati, squadron, which is pracucaIF
blockaded in Tsiug-tau the port Of Kiaochau' II
tho allies considered It worth while TO seize Ger
maDv's port and the leased territory on the Shan'
tYpr peninsula they could do it out OF the fulnesS
of their own naval and military resources
Janap has volunteered TO relieve them OF that
task out Of rather overzealous regard Tor ner
treaty obligations to Great Britain. But that re-
card e fortified by an ancient grudge against Ger
many and by natural desire to be rid at con
venient season Of an obnoxious neighbor Inc
German military base IS unpleasanty close 10
Cores and even to the coast Of Japan. and II Ger
,ranv were to be eliminated as a political and to
Coma extent as commercial factor in that region
Iananese interests would be served and Japans
d,,,or,sttc nroblem there would be considerably
simplifed
Il wa, Germany that stood most aggressiyely
in the way Of Japans retention Of Port Ar1hu'
after the Chinese-Japanese War. Tokio's ult-
matum 10 Berlin in 1914 borrowed some OF the
rbrases Of Berlin's ulumatum to Toxic in 1890
rsnan Welded nineteen years ago, but she was
doubtless glad to find that Germany would not
Weld now. since the reclamation Of Kiaochau by
force will furnish a more dramatic and satisfying
revenge than could have been extracted from a
merely pacific expulsion
Japan's pledges to confne military operations TO
the Yellow Sea and TO refrain from attacking
German possessions in the Pacific Ocean ought TO
give a strictly localized character TO this new
pbase Of the world war" There can be no ques
ton Of the outcome Of the attack on Kiao'chau
The fortress OF Tsingta may hold out for
time. but it can never be relieved. 1t must fall
before the Overwhelming forces brought against
II. II Japan at the end Of the siege occupies the
German dependency and later turns II back to
China. which still has the title TO IT, no damage
will have been done TO the balance Of power IN
the Far East No neutral nation can complain II
China merely resumes possession Of territory
which she was compelled TO lease in satisfaction
of trivial German claims.
Best Of all the principle Of the open door will
not be challenged. II IS that principle which
chiefly interests the United States. We have Ia
bored 10 secure recognition Of Chinos right 10 lie
protected against further territorial spoliaton aud
our view is fortunately embodied in the Anglo
Japanese treaty Of alliance, Of whose objects
is, to quote Cts own words, the preservation of
the common interests OF all the powers In China
10y insuring the independence and integrity of the
Chinese Empire lnow the Chinese Republicl and
the principle Of equal opportunities for the COM
merce and industry Of all nations IN China"
Germany will stin enjoy an "open door" in
China for her trade. even though she loses her
lease ON part Of the shan tung peninsula. Her
stake IN the war with Japan is therefore very
small apart from the shatterng Of her day dream
OF political aggrandzement in the Far East The
scale OF the great European war absolutely dwarfs
Japans campaign in miniature 10 compel German
evacuation Of a tiny piece Of Chinese territory.
Yet n the war in Europe drags along and drives
both sides 90 desperate measures Japan's actIy
ties may be ominously enlarged. We have seen
the international treaty guaranteeing the indepen
dence and neutrality Of Belgium violated without
conjunction on the ground Of military couyen.
fence. ON the same ground Japans pledges 10
localze her operations against Germany may also
be ignored, aud should Great Britain request II