Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-04-19
AN APPEAL FOR CHINA.

dent Wilson, reported by the Associated Pres
last Saturday.
The missionaries of China are not acting
without reason. About month ago they out
lined briefly their opinion and sent it to the
president Since then there has been nothing
to indicate that America is contemplating a
firm protest to Japan, and the missionaries
realize that unless America acts, the statesmen
of the island monarchy are likely to impose
their will upon the laundering young republic.
On Thursday last the Star Bulletin published
The Japanese demands in full, thus giving
Hawaii It's first knowledge of the nature of
these demands Doubtless there will be denials
that theaemands are al printed, but this paper
had unquestionable authority in publishing the
five groups Toxic proposes for dual agreement.
It needs only casual reading of these de-
mands to convince anyone that an agreement
ON the part of China would transfer sovereignty
from China to Japan Not only through polit-
cal, commercial and military advisers but
through actual administrative officials in Shan
tnng, Manchuria and other provinces, Japan
would be ruling in China as surely as if the
Elder Statesmen sat in Peking.
The progress of the negotiations is peculiarly
uncertain Japan has been reported as waving
a number of the demands. These reports were.
made with much emphasis Immediately after
The United States despatched polite note of
inquirysto Toxic. Japan at once disclaifhed any
intentidnrof seeking unfairly to control China.
Yet Chinese alarm and resentment since then
have increased rather than diminisbedzz -
more as America has shown no further sign
Of possible Intervention. President Yuan has
apparently been forced slowly to yield. sno is.
safe to assume that Japan is steadily gaining,
the points she is determined upon. 5'2' t y 4
To do this, Japan has insisted upon the ut
most secrecy. A despatch from Peking- un-
doubtedly genuine, since it was allowed to ap-
pear in japanese papers rather naively IL
Eliminates this point: 49,. .. -.:
PICKING, China Marcel 29-Despe the fire.
quent warnings of the Japanese minister to the
negotiations should be kept absolutely secret be-
tween both parties only, the proceedings each time
reported in the English papers here in detail
and are subsequently translated in the Chinese
papers which are making use of them in stirring up
popular minds against the negotiations. The p.
chine authorities thus never listen to the Japan
ese minister's Warnings but rather make use Of
them in favor Of their country.
It is to Japan's interest to keep the demands
and negotiations secret for two reasons, be-
cause publication of the demands in detail will
show the world the extent TO which China will
be subjected to Japanese control and CONNER
cial exploitation; and second, because if Japan
can. succeed in keeping from her own people
the knowledge of these demands in detail, she
can save her face if she is forced by external
pressure to waive some of the important fea-
lures. --e-,--sas--.-@~.s .-...e r.. |
And this last reason is a very weighty one
with Japan just now. There is restiveness ind
the island monarchy Reconsideration with it's
Limitations intense ambition for more world !,
action. Japan demands room for expansion.
Her people clamor fora more vigorous
policy with China. Plainly, this means for
Japan to take what she wants in China, bluntly |
and with force if necessary
If Japan is forced to waive some of the de-
mands-and the people at home learn of i'll
there will be ansnnsuppr surge of pro- |,
test, which might even Overthrow the Okuma
ministry. Hence Japan, foreseeing the posi-
bility that she cannot get everything she de-
mands of China, wishes to, avert home dissatis- |
faction by making the Japanese people think
All of her demands have been filled. |
This is acute diplomacy, but it was conceived
without reckoning with the able journalists of
china. British and American newspapermen
there were not long in finding out the nature
q the demands and in giving them to the world,
at first, but finally in pretty definite
form And then began the protests in China
s,,cb nc the 5OOO-word appeal cabed to the