Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
SILENT VICTORIES
at Toxic and Washington Are
Growing as Important as the Actions
in France

WHILE the attention of all mankind
w has been riveted upon the stupendous
drama of the Marne battlefields, events
quit. as intimately related to the future
fate of the world have progressed
silently at Washington and Toxic. 10
know what civilization will be like ten
years from now you may look 10 'he
Allied front in France.
To understand the forces Wh'ch may
inspire or menace the uhote wortd o!
humanity ffty years hence 1t IS neces-
sorv to match Washington and TOXIC.
The news that America and japan nave
found n basis for common effort and rec
opciled ideals is as important and as
cheering as anything that has come over
the cables since the war began.
It is common belief that crushing
defeat in France and in Russia would
end the mania of Germanism. 1t is
belief not borne out by trends in world
nolitics. Statesmen have had many
nightmares in the last four years. The
most awful of all of them is one seldom
spoken Of Diplomatists behind closed
doors have asked themselves what would
happen were Germany to be declared an
outcast and an outlaw by western civili-
cation and forced to pool her science, her
genius for intrigue and her mania for
the gun and the sword with militant
Orient.
1t is easy to say that the Orient is not
militant. 1t is not-noW. But II the
commoner faults of western diplomacy
are to be repeated the Orient might
easily be made militant in self-defense'
The result in future years would be
world split in two and rival civilizations
rather than rival nations struggling for
dominance or survival.
The cry for an economic boycott OF
Germany brings that appalling pos
sibiity shade nearer. Germany S
monstrous crimes against the world in
vite endless vengeance. There are moral
grounds for the suggested commercial
reprisals of the Allied nations, aside from
questions of practical craftsmanship.
Germanys natural resources are made
quate to her industries. To avoid poverty
and industrial disintegration Germany
must have minerals, cotton, food and
other raw stuffs from the outside.
Should the nations notr an the Alliance
deny her these things for, sag, ten gears,
Germany, unless she aCere reduced to
atoms, 1could naturally turn to the East
for the economic intercourse which in
rariably precedes political alliance.
Berlin has never ceased to hope for
an active working agreement with japan.
Japan has made it evident that after the
war she will make no agreements with
Germany that are not rendered impera-
tive by considerations of her own ma
tional safety. Japan is the genius of the
East. AS she goes the Orient will go.
Japan, like America, is adjusting her.
self to new viewpoint of International
ism. The suggestion, therefore, that she
has accepted the American theory-and
a working agreement with the United
States would indicate such an accept
ance--is of overwhelming significance
Japanese idealism and wisdom and edu-
cation are adequate to recognition of
the splendor and, above all, the great
utility of the American policy of justice
and fairness.
For this reason joint leadership be-
tween Japan and America upon the two
sides of the world for a common end
properly might mean a turning point in
human history, new beginning for man.
kind and the elimination of the peril of
another world war greater even than the
present one has been.
Such an alliance of purposes, if it is
ever really achieved, will leave no oppor-
tunity anywhere in the world for a
renaissance Of barbarism under German
leadership.