The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-25
MORE SECRET TREATIES.

MOkE SECKEI IKEAllES.
Another interesting chapter of war diplomacy is made
public in Paris 1t consists of exchange of diplomatic
notes early in 1917 between Japan side and Great
Britain France Italy and Russia the other resulting
mutual promises of support in the peace conference
Japan asked for support of her demand for possession
of all German islands north of the equator and all Ger
rights in Shantung. This support promised by
the four allied nations Great Britain asked in return
that Japan support Great Brtans claims to German is
lands south of the equator which Japan promised France
asked that Japan use her influence to induce China to
break off diplomatic relations with Germany This Japan
agreed to do.
These engagements secret, of course They
made before the United States declared war Their
istence not suspected by President Wilson, it is said
until he actually in the peace conference and calling
upon his colleagues dispose of the German islands by
placing them under mandatores in behalf of the league of
nations Then according to report, the representatives
of the powers concerned informed Mr. Wilson that the
problem of TIE German islands had already been solved by
the simple process of agreement among the allies.
Thus the German islands and the Shantung question
in the category the Damatian question. Both
settled beforehand by treaty, before the United
States became beligerent Much made by opponents
of these settlements of the secrecy of the
treaties That however, not in itself objection suf
fcent to justify the setting aside of the treaties for they
necessarily secret They war measures, aimed
directly at the enemy and their utility in promoting har-
monous and energetic action among the allies wohd have
been destroyed if the enemy had been appsed of them
Practical they wore, and if that be Objectionable the
treaties Objectionable But governments have rarely
failed to be intensely practical in safeguarding their
interests while da@ng with other nations either friend
enemy neutra and the greatest disasters have
arisen from the failure of responsible individuals safe
guard the national interests intrusted to them Cautions
and constant attention to the nations interest is the
first duty of any statesmen charged with the guidance
the government American diplomatic history disclose
the fact that wherever sharp attention paid Amer
interests there usually harmony and square deal
ing in international relations while slackncss or undue al
truism usually proved extremely costly
Practical Americans quite apt to believe that any
nation which had the energy and skill necessary to driv
Germany out of her wretchedly misgoverned colonies
before the league of nations sprung upon the world
that all German islands conquered by Japan would go
Japan, and that all German islands conquered by thu
British or Australians would go to them. The idea tina
German colonies should be administered by a mandatory
Of the league theoretically acceptable but like tht
reminder of the league project it is experimental anC
may prove to be merely another novel method of stirring
tbo l,oo
lems it best to American minds that expert
mens in the art of government should be accepted rather
sparngy.
Nevertheless, if the nations concerned willing t.
make scraps of paper of the treaties which they
during the far be it from Americans to worry! Their,
treaties bearing Americas name and there
will be none notwithstanding the persistent report tina
Mr.. Wilson is giving certain private France
The road to open covenants of peace openly arrived at
the toughest and ruggedest road that Mr. Wilson eve
travelled, and need fear that he rolling up extr
powders to obstruct his progress.
The gibes that flung the expense of "open dipo
macy" have the little point after all when it is born
in mind that peacemak ng continuation of war making
Arrangements made in war are necessarily part of thu
material of arrangements for peace Absolute privacy
all international relations impossbty, either in tim,
of peace Secrecy not only unavoidable but
usually preferable from moral standpoint There is
demagogy in secret dealings between governments Their
is world of deception and hypocrisy in public speed
ostensby meant for government but actually intende,
for the mob Washington Post
i man who is telling you funny story thinks he wou
like you to tell him if you have heard it before and hi
likes you great deal better if you dssembe so we'll tina