New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-02

ceit, bigotry and prejudice of the man
darins. They remained obdurate to the
influence Of Western civilization until
/ they saw their capital sacked twice
within half century and their empire
tottering beneath their feet.
Could Have Averted Wars.
Had China followed at the time she
/ first met the West the same course
and policy as Japan, that Is to say, TO
win her place among nations by her
own effort instead of depending for her
security upon her size and traditions,
or upon the grace OF other powers, then
the Far Eastern history of the last few
decades would have been totally diff
ferent one. No Anglo-Japanese ALI
ance, no Russo-Japanese war, no Ger
mani Japanese war would have come or
been necessary, had China been strong
and wideswake. That, then, IS manifest
ly the desderatum in the Far Eastern
situation.
This slowness OF China TO realize her
weakness, and lack of courage TO mend
il. coupled with the fact that she has
so many suitors for her love, makes the
position OF Japan in the Far East an
extremely difficult and delicate one,
and the correct adjustment Of the Slno-
Japanese relations hard task. To some
critics every move Japan makes in
China appears as though it were an act
of aggression; as though Japan were
constantly holding a mailed fist 70 bull
doze weak China and imposing on her
the will of a conqueror. Nothing could
be further from the truth. As a mat
ter of fact, over and over Japan's
friendly warning TO China has been
l. hos haap loft
unheeded. Nay, even the grave disas-
tiers that repeatedly overlook China
have not succeeded in awakening her
from lethargy.
The sad and humiliating spectacles
that meet one at every turn at the Le-
CATION quarter of Picking, where foreign
troops are quartered; at the foreign
settlements, wherein China's sover-
eighty Is overridden and are estab-
lished republics within the republic
these also have failed to make China
bestir herself. And even to-day we have
information, stamped with the authority
of Putnam Weale, that subscriptions
10 the giant patriotic fund-the fund
designed to fight Japan economically
have ceased as if by magic, subscribers
even demanding their money back"
Yuan Shih-ka has himself confessed
that "as soon as the trouble was over
we INDUCED in all kinds Of pleasure,
forgetting all the former humiliations."
To Safeguard Japanese Interests.
Under the circumstances the utmost
Japan can do is to adopt every legiti-
mate means 10 safeguard her inter
ests and TO forestall European en-
croachment upon her neighbor. This is
L IL tIa As,rr 10 Igf nan a
alliance; this is the meaning of Japan's
capture of Kiao-Chau and her attempt
/ TO drive out German militarism-the
most disturbing factor-from the Far
I East. This is the meaning of the re-
cent Sino-Japanese Treaty by which
Japan consolidated her position in
Manchuria, Eastern Mongolia and other
places where she has vested interests,
and by which China voluntarily de-
clared for the alienation of Shan
tung and the bays, harbors and ISL
ands along the coast OF China" But
the critics cry out: what about group
V of the recent negotiations, of those
demands intended to make China vir-
tually a Japanese protectorate? Are
they not an infringement upon China's
sovereignty? Certainly not. They
were not demands upon China, but
simply expressed the wishes OF Japan.
They were friendly proffers, and GER
tainty Japan is entitled to offer 70
China friendly suggestions for her bet
terment. Their acceptance by China,
however, must altogether depend upon
the value she places on Japan's friend
ship and ability.
Once China sees the point, | can see
no reason why she should be slow to
accept some Of Japan's proposals. |
can see no force in Mr.. Rea's contention
that the request TO employ japanese po-
litical, military and financial advisers
is an assertion by Japan of her politi-
cal paramountcy over China. Has
not Mr. Rea himself once been en-
ployed as an adviser by the Chinese
government? Was not DR.. jerks once
so employed? Is not Peking populated
by scores of such titular foreign adj
visers-European and American? Out
of 1888 foreign employees in China there
are at present 245 japanese, while the
remainder Is made up of 1,l05 English,
| ,003 French, 633 Germans, 463 Rus
SLAMS, ia Americans and others. Nor
is there any reason why China would
not heed the advice Of her friend,
which aims for efficiency and unifor-
nifty of arms and ammunition, espe-
cially il the conditions in China with
regard TO these weapons are such as 10
warrant the story told by Mr.. Samuel
Blythe in "The Saturday Evening Post
of July II, that "there were no fuses
for the artillery shells and the soldiers
we're armed with ten different makes OF
rifles" Still less is it easy to compre-
bend why japan is not entitled TO en-
Joy in China the same privilege OF re-
iigious propagandism and of holding
land and property for the purpose or
education and charity which western
nations have been enjoying Tor decades
Does not the freedom of religious
propagandism form one of the corner
stones of Western civilization!
Harbors No Sinister Designs.
To impute TO Japan, because she prof
fered friendly suggestions, that she
harbors a sinister design OF making
China a second Corea is simply ride
ulous. The critics have lost their sense
of proportion. Americans who recall
their history of expansion from Monroe
10 Mckinley would certainly not blame
Japan for annexing Corea and consoI-
dating her position in Manehurla' IL
would be we'll for the critics VINO see
Japan's ambition to conquer Chlna 70
know that they are expecting from hsr
the undertaking OF task Just as dllh-
cult. II not more so, than the annexa-
ton of Canada by the United States
would be. Such an undertaking would
simply be 20 court disaster and ruin TO
the conqueror.
In conclusion wish TO say that upon
co5peration between China and Japan
not enmity, depends the healthy PolIt-
zeal development of the Far East.
And at the same time cooperation, not
antagonlsm, should be the w ..;cs ORD