Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-12
THE SHANTUNG PROVISION

Nations. the advocates OF treaty amendment insist On re-
vtatns the agreement with reference to the control OF
shaatuns.
Most people who have taken any interest In the sub-
jeet would prefer to see Shsntung restored to China I'm
mediately. Occupancy Of a portion Of the territory and
possession of rights formerly held by Germany passsd to
Japan through the fortunes Of war. While the United
States was merely a spectator of the war, and the OUT
look was dark for the nations which were then battling
against Germany, France and Great Britain assented to
an agreement whereby Japan should retain what she had
taken from Germany. When Japan was asked by the
peace conference to relinquish shantung and restore 1t
Immediately to China, she reminded her allies Of their
agreement and demanded its fulhllment.
1t is ide to say that such an agreement should not
have been made. The urgency of the occasion may or
may not have justified the agreement. but in any case.
the agreement was made. What was to be done about
it? 1t could be r%epudiated or it could be fulfilled. There
was no middle course. France and Great Britain chose
to stand by their agreement.
. There is not the remotest possibility that japan will
waive the right which she won by conquest from Ger
many and which was confirmed by the other two great
powers unless she is forced to do SO. Her statesmen have
given assurance that Shantung will be restored to China,
but they refuse to make that promise specific as to
time or TO incorporate it in the peace treaty. Whatever
motives we may ascribe to japan, that is her position,
and she will not move from it unless she is driven. Who
is to drive her? Are we to expect that France and Great
Britain. having taken their stand in support of the agree
nent into which they have entered. will now ~repudiate
It? There is no probability Of it, and fer the United
States to demand that they do repudiate 1t would place
this nation in a peculiar position.
Japan is in possession of shantung. There is no
prospect that the powers that guaranteed her possession
will now try to drive her out. Is the United States likely
to DO so? That is the only way in which she can be driv-
en-. wen accept the fact that unless we undertake to apply
force. Japan Will retain Shantung under the terms Of
the peace treaty. which gives her the right OF occupancy
but not political title.
be In existence a body whose business it viii be to see that
the Shantung provisions Of the treaty are not extended IN
such a manner as to involve further encroachment in
China. Without the League there will be no saeh body,
and va will revert to the old system Of secret and local
treaties and understandings Of all kinds. II Japan Is the
ambitious nation that she has been painted, her most
Germany. for Japan to extend her influence over China as
fast and az far as she can and dare, and for Japan and
Germany together to retganixe the old Russian empire
In their joint interest. There has Just been shattered the
dream of autocraic dominion extending from the Baltic
10 the Persian guilt. But the defeat of the provision FOR
= League Of Nations wilSSsuredly provide both the
means and the incentive for a gigantic combination whose
influence will extend from the North Sea to the Pacific.