New-York tribune., 1919-07-23
The Chinese Puzzle
To the Editor of The Tribune.

NIR: In your yesterdays paper there
was published a statement made by
'The Herald of ASIA" in which it says
that 'if China wants to test Japans sim
cerity let her refuse all further concessions
to Occidental nations and secure for all the
time the inalienation of her territory and
Japans task in regard to China will be fin
ished.' China has, since the establishment
Of republic, made concession and
aienated no territory to any Occidental
nation. She was only coerced by her self
recommended protector" to yield some
very important concessions and to grant to
her Oriental neghbor the extension of
leases of Dairen and Port Arthur in 1915
by the notorious twenty-one demands
Japan's task Of aggression still going
on, while China had proved herself to be
firm in protecting her own territorial in
tegrity and political independence.
1t continues: at is a question, however,
whether China is yet able to do without the
assistance of Japan in keeping foreign
tions at bay; and this help, strange to say,
is just what China does not want" There
has been no single instance in the modern
history Of foreign relations Of China that
when China was invaded by Occidental ma
tions Japan came to her help. On the con-
trary the Occidental nations did come to
China's help when Japan demanded Kwang
tung Peninsula at the end of the Chino
Japanese War in 1895. What assistance did
Japan give to China when Hong Kong, Wei
hai-wei, Port Arthur Dairen, Kwang-chau
Wan and Kiao-chau were demanded of
China by Occidental nations? II her ability
was not enough to assist China, what is
the use of boasting now? If she has such
ability now, why does not she prove it to
the world instead of merely saying 1t?
China can answer Japan that she is able
to keep foreign nations at bay if Japan
stops her aggression in China. China does
not want such assistance from Japan as
to keep Kao-chau and to hold economic
and police rights in Shantung for her. She
is competent enough to do that.
In your editorial of the same date you said
"lsnt it ridiculous for a world quiescent
when many nations encroached on China to
become excited when Japan contracts the
grabbing disease? If there is a Kiao- chau
there also is a Tonqun, Hong Kong, a
Shanghai, a Macao and there were Port
Arthur and Dalny and German Kiao-
chau" May | say that China insists
the return of Kiao-chau because it is legiti-
mate, as China has declared war on Ger
many? All the rights in Shantung for
merly held by Germany shosld be
turned to China, for all the treaties and
agreements were abrogated when war was
declared. China wants to settle legitimate
ly all the questions with Germany at the
end of war in order that no difficulty can
Lo Al,
the peace conference to review the Chino
japanese treaty Of 1915 is also result
of the war, as conditions have changed
since China entered into the war. 1t is
absurd to infer that China makes dis
elimination against Japan. She does not
ask Japan to return Port Arthur and
Daircn.
You said that "If japan makes herself
understood, she now is willing to do as
others do; her policy is derived not
orginal reflex, exotic rather than in
digenous.' Do you know that she pre-
tends all the time TO help China, not to
grab China? If she admits her guilt we
can do nothing with her, because we are
not yet prepared to fight robber. While she
talks as a friend and acts as an ag-
grcssor, we can at least hold her words
You further said eve assert right
to set up Monroe Doctrine for America,
but question Japan's right to have a
Monroe Doctrine for the Far East Do
you believe that Japan desires real
Monroe Doctrine in the Far East? Has
she ever acted in Asia as the United States
does in America? No, she acts just
trary to this country. Then her right to
have such a thing should not be questioned?
Japan has grabbed lands from coun-
tries that sEe pretends to protect, secured
all special rights in Asiatic nations which
she looks upon as vassals Is it the
doctrine enuncated by President Monroe
for America? Really Japan is attempting
to this good term to realize her am
bition. America should resent her using
this term, as it is apparently an act to insult
this country and President Monroe
J. S. TOW.