New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-20
MONROE DOCTRINE
OF THE FAR EAST
Visit Of Baron IShii Of Great I'm
portance to U. S.
(By Jeremiah W. jerks, Phi D.,
LL.D.)

LLD.)
The forthcoming departure of a
distinguished Japanese mission for
this country, headed by Baron Ishii,
foreshadows one of the major events
of the year in the realm of Far East
ern diplomacy. Baron Ishii has been
First Secretary at Picking, he has been
a special emissary to this country he
has been Vice Minister of Foreign At
fairs in Tokyo, and he has been ia
pans Imperial Ambassador to Paris.
He is a trained diplomat of world ex-
perience. He comes to America to
lay before our government the main
principles, 1t would seem, of modus
vivendi in the Pacific whereby Ameri-
ca and Japan may associate their
joint efforts against a background OF
Allied approval and support, to main
tain peace in the Pacific.
It is a statesmanlike and oppor-
tune project, and our government will
doubtless seize the strategic chance
now offered us to receive on basis
of entire frankness and cordial good
will one of the first diplomats OF the
Japanese empire. Now that the
clouds of misunderstanding which at
tended Secretary Lansing's recent
note to China have been dissipated
both in Toxic and Washington, leav-
ing on the whole an impression very
creditable to the American depart
ment Of state for It's entirely proper
and heartening sympathy with the
Chinese government, the air is cleared
for a long delayed personal discussion
between America and japan which
cannot but be productive Of great
benefit to both nations.
The somewhat sharp exchange of
compliments over our note to China
especially the attitude Of the press,
did not serve to bring into promi-
hence, however, some very important
prepossessions of the Japanese mind
of today. Some Of these, must I'M
questionably be uppermost in any
joint discussion of the Far East in
general. and our relations in China
in particular Perhaps most MOTTO
able among them is Japan's recently
revived claim for "paramountcy" in
China. 1t was not merely misunder-
standing of a ''garbled note'' that
slightly ruffled the American-Japa-
nese relations fortnight or so ago.
1t was Japan's plain comprehension
that we We're giving China important
salutary advice which. If followed
would serve to strengthen China's
status as sovereign and independent
nation. The terms of that advice
might have been twisted by unfriend-
ly transmission into impertinent sus-
gestions. But the real basis Of Japa-
nese remonstrances as copiously re-
ported throughout the American
press was that we had many ma
1or diplomatic dealings with China at
all without frst asking advice and
gaining cooperation from Toxic.
Japan, we have now been told for
several years past, aspires to main
tain a Monroe Doctrine of Asia.
which, it is suggested not only in the
name, but argument Is on the Ameri-
can model, China in this new ar
rangcment playing much the same
! part in relation to Japan as does Mex
leo to the United States. This doc
trine has been nooted before. but 1t
Nrealy became most vigorously popu-
larizod on the visit to this country ir
1915 of Baron Shibusawa, Japan
leading industrial magnate. It's re
emphasis on the eve Of the departure
Of the Ishii mission to this countr,
it's recent reiteration Throughout
, Japan, and its industrious circulation
among our newspapers ny l1.S Jdpd
5 nese publicity bureaus in this countr,
all would seem to point to one thing
t that we are the subjects of Japa
= nese diplomatic drive, of which tn
e objective is our recognition OF Japal
as the paramount power guaranteeing
a Monroe Doctrine ~ Asia.
Japans point of view could not b
more succinctly expressed than In
staten nt which recently Dune Is
4 appeared in an interview in the Ne1
j York Times with DR.. Toyokichi I've
maya, the distinguished director of tn
Japanese East and West News Blu
reau. There is no subject on whic
Japanese feeling is more sensitiv
Z than our relations with China sal
DR. Iyenaga, flor these touch closet
the vital interests of the empire. Sen
: timent there over what is regarded a
i unusually attractive American in
fuence in Chinese affairs Is much tn
same as that which Americans nigh
81 feel if there we're unusual Japanes
RI activity in Mexican affairs "Whil
q the whole Japanese nation eagerl
desires recognition by America and b
= the world" continues this able Japa
a nese spokesman, "of Japan's para
q mount interests in the Far East, I d
: not think there is any ground for be
il lieving that the present internationa
u situation is to be taken as an oppor
: tunity for asserting these interests.
Very likely not. but 50 long as 9TH
= whole Japanese people" have thi
Il conscious. If tactfully silent, object l.
4 view it cannot but form the back
ground Of a discussion we may hav
- with Japans distinguished enissarie
4 about the future OF the Far East.
y And, whether that proposal
brought up in so many words or no
= we must have in our minds too back
n ground governing our policy accord
> ing as we accept or reject this funda