New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-20


templates. 1t rests either on fear of
somebody else's aggression or de-
termination or her own. It is not a
peace policy, for it presupposes pro-
lection, and the need for protection
presupposes evil from some direction
that Japan's strong right arm must
ward off.
Broadly speaking, Japan's analogy
OF Monroe Doctrine for Asia is a far
seeing rejoinder to America, and a
plausible and convincing rejoinder too,
to stay in our own part Of the world
and mind our own business. Narrow
1y speaking. however, with rigid and
specific reference to the exact Dues
tons which 1t is designed to cover. 1t is
the most misleading and unfair ana
losy IN the whole world of Pacific di-
plomacy. What Is our Monroe Doc
trine? It is a loose, diplomatic min
ciple laid down early in our history
whereby we made known to the world
our determination to allow no monar-
chist European nations to interfere az
gressiVely in order to conquer and sup
press republicanism in the new world.
1t was protective only; it did not at
tempt TO dictate the internal policies
or the American nations 1t had at
nrst no reference to trade; it still Is
disposed to leave absolutely unim-
paired the great European trade CEN
tiers, in most Of the countries far
greater than our own, in Central and
South America. 1t has never acquired
territorial Concession" sphere of
interest," nor amountcy" Of any
character whatever. 1t has never in
sisted that any Latin-American coun-
try should exploit its Mines, or build
It's railroads. or seek its general de-
velopment loans exclusively with our
assistance and participation. 1t has
never led to the forcible or permanent
acquisition of an inch Of Latin-Ame ri-
can territory. Panama stands on an
entirely different basis
Contrast with this rough summary
Japan's alleged corresponding attitude
to the mainland Of East Asia. She has
annexed Forn1osa, and Korea and gov
erns with sovereign power the Kwang-
tung Peninsula. and for the present, at
least, Kiaochao, all Of which she has
seized during the past twenty five
years by no higher right than force Of
arms. OF these only Formosa could
be put on the same basis as Porto
Rico. She claims spheres of interest"
in five of China's greatest provinces;
she has utilized her claims In Man.
churia virtually to appropriate China's
great northern coal and iron mines,
and she controls to a large degree the
great Hanyehping mines and works.
Her soldiers are in Hankow and Tien-
tsin, In many parts Of Shantung. and
throughout the length and breadth Of
Southern Manchuria. She is an au-
tocracy; a monarchy modelled after,
but far less constitutionally restricted
than Germany; and the country she is
protecting is a republic, nobly. sin
cerely striving for popular govern
ment The people over whom she pro-
poses to estab lish her tutelage have
an older and far more profound
civilization than her own. In fact,
practically all Of her justly admired
art and literature have been derived
from China, and in most OF these lines
China still excels.
Again, it is very hard to forgive an
analogy which places our long and
cordial relations with China, espe-
cially our immense ethical and social
services there, on the level OF Japan's
relations with Mexico. Our activity
in China, in commerce, in diplomacy,
in mission work. antedate Japan's by
half a century, and we have always
refused repeatedly to act aggressively,
even when it has been urged. Japan's
relations with Mexico are exotic. They
| are purely commercial, unless, as is
believed by very many, they are based
| on an eXpediency that is strategic, to
| say the least Moreover, China Is
! destined to become one of foremost
! producing nations of this world, q
vast market, an enormous industrial.
workshop, an incalculable economic
| prize to the exploiter, huge anC
sta bilizing, peaceful power if allowed
to develop its grtat wealth in it's owl
way. The problem OF China is
world problem in an infinitely great
er degree Gust think of it for mo
ment culturally alone, with no hin
of commercial advantages for an,
one) than is the problem of Mexico
China's art treasures even today, af
ter she has enriched the collections O
every land, are among the world
choicest.
Further, the enlightened move
ments in China, the bent toward fire
institutions have had their mos
vital support invaria bly, from thi
country. It is by no accident tina
America first recognized the Chimes
republic, that America first Withdrew
from a bankers group because. i
President Wilson's view. howeve
others may judge. we put China's in
terest as a people struggling for free
dom above that of the profit OF GU
f1nanciers Not only has Japan playe
no corresponding role in Mexico. l.
China herself she has never conspic
uously been the friend of any move
ment, revolutionary otherwise
toward liberalism and reform. Il
fact, the Chinese themselves believ
that she has instigated dissension l.
order to stif1e reform.
The paramountcy we claim in Mex
leo based on a continent-wide Ian
| frontier. has no commercial hack