New-York tribune., 1919-08-26
The Shantung Eggshells

The Shantung EggshelIs
Despite the hurrah over the Shantung
question and it's illogical ENHANCEMENT
with the covenant issues, our people may
be assumed to view it sensibly and calm
! ly and with fair appreciation Of the
Japanese side of the case.
That Shantung, the birth province Of
Confucius, is an integral part of China
is established by 5000 years of history,
and that by any known standard Of ma
tional association it belongs to the most
ancient Of fatherlands seems not open
to question, but as to the general rela-
tions of japan to the Far East it is
we'll to bear in mind some outstanding
facts.
We have a Monroe Doctrine of which
we are justly jealous, and root of this
doctrine is the desire to keep at els
tance possibly troublesome neighbors.
We have never admitted the doctrine
was inconsistent with denias of any
purpose to annex or to play lord to
Americas neghbors
An American who supports Monroe
ism should be able to understand why
Japan wants Monroe Doctrine for the
Far East. Russia penetrated Manchu-
ria and reached the Corean frontier.
Japan was compelled to fight a great
war to drive her back Germany seized
Kiao-chau and a special position in
Shantung. Often China has seemed about
to be partitioned. Not without reason,
then, does Japan think her propinquity
and the fact that she is the only modern
nation in the Orient warrant her in
claiming the trusteeship which the Lam
singIshii note recognized.
Nor will candid Americans deny the
weight of the example we set in Cuba.
We expelled Spain from Cuba, as Japan
did Germany from Shantung, and when
we started on the undertaking declared
1t not our purpose to annex Cuba But
when the expulsion was achieved we did
not withdraw at once, holding it neces-
sary to establish order first. We would
have taken it in i'll part if Japan or any
other nation had demanded that we fix
an evacuation date and have thrown
doubt on our good faith when we re-
fused. We insisted on making the Platt
amendment part Of Cuba's fundamental
law and became custodian of Cuba. The
Shantung and the Cuban cases are not
related, but there is q sufficient similar
ity to excuse a Japanese pointing to what
we did.
In spite Of the present claims of China
to our sympathy the time has not come to
sign blank check in her favor Many
reasons can be urged for leaving the
liquidation Of the German estate in the
Far East to Japan. She may not act
unfairly or exclusively
Messrs. Lansing, White and Bliss
think if the President had held out for
the policy he intimates he personally
favored that Japan would have yielded.
But If the President and Colonel House
blundered and their diplomacy was weak,
the consequences can be overcome
only by proceeding with care. A fiat
refusal to ratify the treaty unless the
Shantung clause is changed will scarcely
contribute to the desired end A proud
nation is not likely to bend to a per-
emptory demand. Japan is now in pos
session, and the President has consented
to an indefinite prolongation. Would
we drive Japan out by war? If not.
Toxic is more likely to listen to soft
than hard words. Some sort of UNDER
standing has been arrived at touching
Japanese evacuation, and it is prudent
to await developments-until it is shown
whether or not Japan is to respect the
understanding. At present at Washing
ton Shantung is word to conjure with.
but it behooves the Senate to WEIGH
most seriously all of the questions in
volved in an approval of the recon-
mendation Of its Committee on Foreion
Relations.
Besides the delicacy of our relations
with Japan it would seem highly mex
pedient to take any action that would
]eopardize the peace as whole or COM
pei reassemblage of the conference.
The step taken by the President. how
ever unwise it may have been, is not
easily retraceable. Perhaps as far as
the Senate may safely go at the present
Juncture is to make it clear that this