Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-06
tv--JApAN AND THE WORLD WAR to

comparatively little attention when it
reached the United States. In the
shower of ultimatums flying about,
Japan's seemed far away and unim-
portant. Today it begins to look as
though that ultimatum would be
fraught with more consequences for
this country than any Of those ex-
changed between European capitals.
Japan's step in declaring war GER
tainly did not arouse any appreciable
opposition in the United States.
Americans took 1t for granted that she
went in under the Anglo-Japanese'
alliance. Such Americans as took an
interest in far eastern politics renem-
bered that the Anglo-Japanese alliance
provided only for defensive warfare
when the oriental territories or inter
ests of either power should be threat
ened by third power. Germany was
not threatening England's far eastern
interests, except in very general and
secondary way; but the terms of al
liances have been stretched before,
and Japan's action seemed to most
neutral observers, justifable enough.
Germany held in Kiao-Chao, her
Chinese port, possible base for nav
pointed to this fact as reason for her
own move. A base for naval warfare
in the east might be regarded as
point hostile to England's far eastern
| interests. and hence as open to attack
under the terms Of the Anglo-Japanese
alliance. At the time that this point
was raised, those who saw the posi-
Bile consequences of Japanese action to
the United States and China, suggest
ed that Germany would be glad to re-
frain, voluntarily, from using Kiao-
Chao as a naval base, rather than
lose it, as she certainly must before
.Japan's attack. China actually brought
the expedient formally to the atten-
ton of the United States and Japan,
Us the two powers most interested,
after herself The choice was never
offered Germany, however. Japan sent
IN ultimatum instead.
England's attitude toward Japan's
course is particularly interesting. or
! ficially, Japan was received into the
list of belligerents with open arms.
Popular sentiment in England took
the same stand A declaration of war
on Germany was a sure bid for popu-
there is little doubt that English
statesmen and diplomats would much
prefer to see Japan neutral power
rather than belligerent. Her great
est help to the allies has been her
manufacture of munitions for Russia.
She could do that without declaring
war AS it is, her course has upset
that carefully piled apple cart oficial-
! ly known as the balance of power in
the far east. y. +, r-..
At any rate. Japan went into the
war She dispatched An expedition
against Kiao-Chao. Kiao-Chao is a
port on the southern coast Of the
Shantung peninsula, which forms a
part of one Of the most thickly popu-
lated provinces in North China. Japan,
however, did not land her troops on
the southern coast of the peninsula.
She adopted the somewhat remark.
able and inexplicable procedure of
landing on the north coast, one hun
dred and eighty miles from the port
she had set out to attack. China had
J declared a war zone, but she naturally
did not make it large enough to In
clude the whole peninsula.
| As Japan marched overland, she
seized whole railways, running hun.
dreds Of miles out of the war zone. She
violated China's neutrality on a large
scale. England went into the greatest
war In history over a violation of Bel.
gums neutrality. Nobody went to
war to defend China's.
Japan worked southwark through
Shantung and took Kiao- Chao, as it
was obvious from the first that she
would take 1t. The one feature Of the
campaign that came somewhat unex.
pectedly was Englands action in send.
ing a British expeditionary force to
cooperate with the Japanese The
reason for such a course is plain. Eng.
land wants to have voice in the
negotiations that will ultimately deter.
mine the disposition of the spoils of
the campaign. and her expeditionary
force gives her the right to such a
voice. Japan could not refuse the
assistance of her ally, but England's
course was not popular in Japan. Jap.
an did not need any help and did not
want it.
England's course holds out the best
hope of an ultimate square deal for
both the United States and China in
the matter, for England's interests in
the matter lie along the same lines
with our interests and China's. China
wants the open door" policy, with it's
guarantee Of equal commercial rights
| to all nations and territorial spheres
of influence to none, because it repre-.
sents China's best chance for continu.
: ing as a nation instead of being split
up among the powers. The United
States wants the open door perpetual.
ed, because in case the sphere of in.
huence doctrine is revived, we will be
left out Of China absolutely.
| In one clause of the Shant;ung treaty
between Japan and China lies a grave
menace to American interests, and
Americas future. China agrees to
consent to the transfer by Germany TO
Japan Of all her rights in Shantung
Now Germany's agreement with China
in this matter provides that German
merchants and German capital shall
have first call on the trade and de.
velopment of the province. and only