Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-19
SHANTUNG MEANS
future CONFLICT
Chinese Statesman Declares
: Peace Treaty Sows Seed
of Another War.
IS CONTRARY TO JUSTICE
Japan's Military Power Caused
Powers to Yield to Annex
alton Demand.
BY CARSUN C. CHANG,
Professor Of international LAW, Pekia

University.
LONDON. Oct 1S.-why should
OF nations by refusing to sign the
pcace treaty? This question has been
addressed to me many times. and
think our standpoint should be stated.
ltude OF our government her failure
20 sign the peace treaty does not in
against the idea OF the league of ma
lions; ON the contrary. she shows
herself as a nation whoa has erea,
CONFIDENCE in the league.
In dealing with the question, the
peace terms concerning Shantung
have to be considered in relation 10
s sh. League. No one can deny, that
economical rights. is Chinese terri
Tory. and should belong TO China, not
70 any ,h other nation whatever. Owing
ments which were concluded on tho
initiative OF Japan. between her and
shantuns was decided in H''f favor OF
Japan, and in our d.sfavor.
Contrary TO Justice
Considering that such decision is
rot only, contrary to the principle Of
justice. but carries with 1t the seeds
OF future war, and considering that
IL Is dangerous TO allow an aggressive
ncighbor to put a halter around our
necks by establishing herself in Shan
lung, China announced to the peace
conference that she was prepared 10
mat the signing OF the treaty should
mot prevent her from bringing the
Shantuns question before the league
oi nations for revision.
This action enables US 10 distinguish
Clearly whether caina is a pro-league
ration o: an anti-lcague nation. Not
only Is she a ro-league. nation; she
was inc hrst nation which showed
hersel! 10 have sufficient confidence in
ne league OF nations 20 hope that the
natter could get our wrong r!ghtcd.
Refusal Only Alternative.
On account of the nonaccep,ance OF
our condition. the Chinese govern
mcnt had no alternative but to refuse
70 sign. China had already incurred
treaty OF the twenty-onc demands O:
Japan IN 1915 and the secret agree
ment OF 1918. She was told that II
she had not signed these treaties the
ShantunS question would have been
decided IN her favor.
II china had signed the peace treaty
she would have done third time what
che had been. condemned for doing
twice before. She had already, under
me pressure OF intrigue, signed two
10 sign third treaty. which, as re-
cards shantung: Was quite unjust.
ton differently hut for the treaty of
1875 and that OF i9ls. we may infer
Win S ssr,anfy ,has ne great pGwe ,ns
United states OF America, knew they
We're acting unjustly toward China;
but, owing to the complications OF
treaty tcchnicalities. they thought In
their haste they must commit an In
justice toward China.
Attitude of tho Powers.
Such was tho attitude OF the great
powers on the one hand and OF China
on the other during the time OF ncSo-
tlation of the peace terms at the con-
ference. Under tho circumstances tho
Chinese government felt bound 10 do
nothing which would prejudice even
technically tho justice of her lain.
She looks forward TO the time when
the peace terms regarding Shantung
may bc revised.
So much for the standpoint Of the
TO give the views of tho Chinese peo-
pic,
During 1917 and 1918. when ;he idea
Of "A league OF nations began TO be
generally discussed. most OF the Chi
ncsc believed that such an orSaniza-
lion ought to take the place OF what
has been called international anar-
chy." Although We Chinese are not
in position to make declaration
which carries weight and which VIII
he so widely read as President VIII
sons speeches or .Niscount Grcy,s
pamphlet on the league Gall Of which
were published by the New no1H
that this idea should be whole-hcart-
cdly supported.
Chinn's Moral Standard.
The Chinese nation is very deeply
mbued with an ideal moral standard
of what is right and wrong; the ira
ditional philosophy which teaches US
THIS need not be quoted here How
ever. our diplomatic dealings during
the past half century have led us to
believe that our moral ideal cannot
he applied to International polltlGs
because the theory that might is right
decides everything in the interna-
tional community. -
During. the wal, great deal or
nenred in the pronouncements of the
responsibe stasems thdreb IN ,6 d,Hef ths
s suguTed well en' for the fStare orsan-
zation of the world. With this ,eS,,
pectation we went to Paris and waited
ing the peace negotiations. So far as
China Is concerned we were deeply
disappointed by ,!,, the result t.ho,. came
into existence on the foundation of
diplomatic complications. This point
s eannG ssHt @sens speech
livered to the Senate on July u.
"Old entanglements of every kind
governments had made to one another
when might and right were confused
md the power of the victor was be-
"Engagements which CONTEMPLATED
Any dispositions of territory. any eX-
seem to be tho interest of those Who
been entered into without thought of
what the peoples concerned might
seem to be the interest of those who
h ha" entered into Without thought of
what the ueoples Concerned might
wish or profit by. These could not al
wavs honorably he brushed aside.
"It was not easy to graft a new
order Of ideas on ALL and some fruits
OF the grating may. 1 fear for the
He went on to say that. with few
executions. the men who sat with us
hn "
to get away from the demoralizng
ambitions OF international councils
To Reconcile Japan.
Unfortunately one of these few OK
eeptions, which President Wilson
recognized. is tho Shantung question.
which concerns the vital interests Of
China. In this case the peoples wish
was disregarded in order to reconcile
Japan who insisted upon usurpng
NChina's rights in this province.
AS the, world knows. the question