The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-08-05
THE HONOR
OF AMERICA

ton. New York University,
Chairman. Alexander Hamilton
Institute; and Director The Far
Eastern Bureau.)
The Germans have walled and
whined that they were robbed of
their honor when they were compell-
ed to say that they were guilty of
wrong in beginning the war and in
their brutal, illegal methods of con-
Quoting it. Americans have felt that
the Germans robbed themselves of
honor when they violated their
pledged word to Belgium, destroyed
defenseless cities, violated helpless
women and murdered innocent chill
dren. Honor and dishonor, we think
come from within ourselves. They are
matters OF tibet heart. Our own
deeds bring us honor or dishonor,
not the deeds OF others. Our honor
is in our own keeping. 1t cannot be
snatched from us; but we may by
our own act forfeit It,
! At the peace conference, President
Wilson reports, the Japanese dele
gates promised orally to return Kiao-
chow to China. They refused to sign
an agreement to that effect. Their
honor, they said. forbade it. The
world must trust their statement Civ
en- at secret meeting. japanese
representing their delegates denied
in Paris day or two later that Jap
an had given any such promise.
The Japanese government in 1915
made 81 secret demands upon China
that would have made her to large
degree a subject nation. Then II
, formally denied to other nations that
, II had made such demands. Later,
when II became evident that this de-
NAL was false, IL gave out an ahbrc-
waited copy OF the demands as COM
plete. copy. Still later when a full
copy has been secured and publiste ed
by others 1t acknowledges that they
were accurate. This whole series CT
official receptions the Japanese no
not seem to consider dishonorabIe,
but their honor is touched. they say
now. II they are asked to put prom
Use in writing.
In 1915 the Japanese government
forced the Chinese government by a
threat OF war to sign treaty en-
bodying the demands above mention
ed as so shameful that the japanese
officials denied to the world their ex-
istence. But such oppressive tyranny
the Japanese government seems to
consider honorable. have never vet
heard an American who knew tie
facts say that he considered am Uf
the above acts OF the Japanese gov.
eminent honorable. l hope l shall
never see such an American. have
heard a few men defend some Of
these Japanese acts on the ground
that other nations had done similar
things.
In the peace treaty there has been
granted to Japan the German claims
in the Chinese province of Shantung.
This grant to Japan at the expense
o.: our colleague in war, China who
entered the war at Americas request
is mainly the fruit OF the Japanese
treachery and tyranny of the 2l de-
mands. coupled with further treach-
cry since the war began by which
Japan prevented China from enter
ing the war much earlier than she
did and aiding the Allies more etfec-
tivey.
The Chinese consider this awaI 4
unjust. All the American experts
economic, historical. naval, military
= reported against It. Three ont of
four OF President Wilson's co,'eag-
ues opposed. President Wilson him
self considered II wrong. but agreed
to it under the threat OF the Japan
aca ihaf tba.g ,yo,,Ia - A. - =