Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10
Chinese


Deeu tOlO IaT less than OIL
the Japanese claims. and this makes
the following interview with Tai Chi
Quo. China's technical delegate to the
peace conference at Paris, particularly
valuable. That he Is fully qualified
to speak Is guaranteed not only by
the important post which he held in
that Chinese delegation, but by the
fact that before the conference he
had been secretary to the president, Ii
Yuen Hung.
1 must explain before dipping into
the details Of the interview which
presents China's case in full to the
American people for the first time.
that 1t was worked out. not as an in
terview with one man, although l
we'll informed Chinese and famous
interna tional were present, and that
there were, therefore, several contri-
butors to the conversation, chief
among whom was Chen Hsu, Chi
nese of great distinction, who, under
the Manchu government, was princi-
pally responsible for the organization
of the modern Chinese law courts and
who twice served as vice minister OF
Justice. and now is minister of justice.
He. also, was in Paris with the dele
gates to the peace conference, In a
semi official capacity. In truth he was
the Chinese delegations principal le-
gal expert.
+ X X X
So, taken all together, it may be said
that this interview is an expression OF
peculiar and extraordinary distinc-
ton and that it safely may be taken
as representative Of the best thought
in that sleeping nation" which now
is awake and progressing with speed
very slightly understood on this side
of the Pacific and perhaps even less
appreciated in Europe, where those
influences originated which resulted In
the peace conference decision against
which the Chinese SO bitterly COM
plain.
1t Is interesting to note, further,
that Mr.. Hsu may be spoken OF as
representative of the old Chinese
school, while Mr.. Quo Is of the rising
generation, very progressive, very
we'll informed. very modern. They
aver that at last the new and old
work together in the vast Asiatic
land in perfect harmony for the COM
mon good.
China" said Mr.. Quo. had no
course open to her other than re-
fusing to sign the German peace
treaty This action has been indors-
ed throughout the length and breadth
Of the nation. Japan controlled the
decision Of the conference with re-
gard to questions Of the far east and
thus grave injustices were inflicted
upon China.
1.-THE details OF the situation are of
vital world Importance. We shall be
glad to make this clear to the Ameri-
can public. 1t is especially important
that 1t should be elucidated that be-
fore the peace conference decision
with regard to German rights in
Ehantung was reached was APP
preached by certain Japanese officials
in Paris who made far better offers
to my country than the decision the
peace conference finally reached
offers which we promptly rejected.
however. because we could not allow
Japan to appear in the peace confer
ence as an intermediary in China's
foreign affairs. The fact is startling
that Japan, as this shows, got from
the peace conference much more than
she believed possible, at the start. to
secure.
For Americans to understand the
grave danger to China Of Japanese
succession to the former German
rights in Shantung l may explain
that while the German position in
Shantung did not endanger China, be-
cause Germany was far from Shan
tung and in no case could use it
against China, but Shantuns, being
close to Japan, offers her a base for
the most elaborate operations.
"Japan's succession to German
economic rights in China gives her
also q great strategic advantage.
y
Japan learned from Hindenburg the
lesson Of the "pincers." With Man
churia and Kiaochow she has Pc
king. our capital, between the jaws
of one pair; and with Kiaochow,
Flu KEN and Formosa she can apply
>pincer pressure elsewhere. Let the
Japanese close these pincers, working