The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-16
Terrible Charge Against Japan Of
Dupicity and Unwise Use Of Force

(By jeremiah W. jerks. Ph.D.,
LID, Director OF The Division Of Pub
lie Affairs. New York University, and
OF The Far Eastern Bureau.)
A Chinese vernacular newspaper
prints a dispatch from Tokyo. which
foreshadows the early recall OF Doc
tor Eki Hioki. the Japanese minister
at Peking, and the expected retire
ment of Baron Ksto. Japan's minister
for foreiRn affairs, who directed the
recent diplomatic inroads upon China 3
rights and sovereignty.
For Japan's own sake, as well as
for the sake of American interests
in the Orient. II Is to be hoped that
the Chinese newspaper is correctly in
formed. Without questioning Doc
tor Hioki's ability or patriotism, as the
man whom the Chinese consider the
instrument OF their humiliation, his
continued presence in Picking can do
only harm TO both countries
The Chinese report is fortified by
a dispatch from Tokyo to American
newspapers describing a cabinet crisis
precipitated by the Elder Statements
criticism of the governments policy
respecting China. Says the New Or
leans (La.) Picayune;
Marquis Inouye and Marquis Mat
sukata according to the dispatch. LED
the attack. charging japanese diplo-
macy with responsibility for the Chi
nese boycott and the 'misunderstand-
ings current abroad regarding Japan's
Intentions
For the good Of Japan and OF world
politics, 81 is to be hoped that the
report is true and that the Elder
Statesmen will drive their attack to
success"
Criticixes Jap Method.
The Ptcayune severely criticfzes
Japan's recent diplomatic methods,
and concludes its editorials with the
hoped that the Elder Statesmen will
succeed IN reforming Japanese dipio-
macy upon saner and healthier
models"
Throughout the course of the world
war there has been a disposition in the
United States and other neutral coun-
tries to lament in Germany's own in
terest the laundering methods of Ger
man diplomacy. Whatever can be
said in justice and truth in criticism
or condemnation of Germany diplo-
macy might be repeated with treble
force in regard to Japan's handling
of her Chinese policy. The Japanese
themselves are beginning to realize
that they have sadly jeopardized their
interests in the Orient and in the
world. by practices which feven II one
would not chara cterize them as some
do. as manifestations of stupid du-
plicity and the worst sort of inter-
national brigandage), certainly have
united the five nations Of China as
they have never been united before
| in open and vehement hostility to,
wards Nippon. Doctor El<i Hioki was
the instrument at Picking used for the
enforcement of Japan's aggressive pol
icy. We have no right nor any rea-
son to assume that he exceeded his
| instructions or departed from them
in the least particular, not even In
that extraordinary and unprecedented
performance where, ignoring China's
| foreign ministry, brushing II aside as
II II did not exist, he, on January 1s,
put forward in person the demands
of Japan in the private reception hall
of China's president. More than one
| very competent and usually reliable
writer has characterized Doctor Hio.
kfs attitude during his interview witt
President Yuan as ''aruculent-" But
! in view OF all the traordinary evil
dence concerning proceedings which
seemed to American eyes shortsight-
eddy unwise as well as unjust from
| first to last, we have no right to con-
! denim Doctor Hioki personally for this
''truculent" behavior, II that be true
Doubtless ne acted under orders.
/ Decided on Terms i'm October.
The Japanese foreign office has is.
sued In book form and In English text
the documents relating to the Sine
I Tay
with the instructions Of Baron Kate
TO Doctor Hioki. These instruction,
were, we are told officially by tas
Japanese foreign office in this officia
record, handed to Doctor Hioki with
the text of the demands on December
3, 1914. We are told by the Asah
| (which, while unofficial, Is accurate.
~ informed) that "the japanese Gov.
eminent decided on the terms o.
Japan's demands on China in October
of last year. Baron Kato, the for.
eign minister. then approached Prince
Yamagata and other statesmen OF tht
old school and explained the mani,
festo, clause by clause. asking 70,
their approval. AT the same time
the foreign office summoned Minister
Hiold back to Tokyo and gave in.
structions with regard to the fde-
| mands and the method of negotia.
| ton. Soon after he returned to Pc
king, visiting the battlefield Of Using.
| tao on his way"
! Several things are woefully ap-
parent from these statements which
have the advantage of being sealed BY
the approval of the Japanese Govern.
ment and must be recognized by all
both friends and enemies. 1t cannot
be said that they have been manu-
featured by Japan's enemies. And II
| Is because OF the results OF Baron
Kato's ruthless diplomacy against
China since October of last year that
in common with other friends OF