The sun., 1919-10-02
sHAYTUNG.
The American Chamber Of Commerce
Of China Reports the Effect OF
the Proposed Transfer to japan.

the Proposed Transfer to japan.
| 1.-THE following communication from the
American Chamber Of Commerce Of China
at Shanghai has recently been received by
various American merchants maintaining
branch ofnces In that iocaiity.1
1t is very gratifying indeed to the
American business man In China to learn
that China and the great problems in
volved In Americas relations with the
Pacific are now receiving such close at
tention on the part Of the Government,
press and people Of the United States.
Potentially the United States now
stands In the best position to take pre-
dominating position IN the foreign trade
of China providing the great problems
that have handicapped US In the past
are now settlsd--settied In accordance
with the best interests Of China and
America and the entire world.
You are Of course aware of the de-
cision Of the Paris Peace Conference in
awarding to Japan the former German
port Of Tslngtao and all former German
interests In the Chinese province Of
| Shantung. The announcement Of this
decision has precipitated a turmoil in
| China that Is quite likely to develop
| serious consequences. The Chinese have
launched a boycott against all Japa-
nese goods sold In China, and the latest
available figures indicate that Japan's
In nfx n
100000 In 1918 has been reduced at
least so per cent. in the short space
of three months. Shantung province. be-
sides being one Of the most important
sea coast states of China, is the birth
place of Confucius, the Chinese saint
and for this reason is more or less holy
ground" to the Chinese people.
1t is difficult for the American people
to realize the feeling that this decision
has provoked in the minds Of the Chinese
people. It has had about the same ef-
feet that the giving of the State Of Cali
fornia or Of New York State to foreign
Power would provoke among the people
Of the United States. Germany's con-
troll in Shantung province. while irk-
some, had nothing of the present effect,
because Germany was on the other side
OF the world and the weight of the iron
hand in China was light.
Japan is an Asiatic Power and her
eontrol established in Shantung province
on the China mainland, the Chinese
people see the fate OF Corea, Formosa
and Manchuria before them. When
Japan first interviewed in Corea she an
nounced that it was for the purpose of
establishing the independence of the
country. Now. after twenty years. the
Corean people are engaged in life
and death struggle to gain their liberty
from japan.
China changed from an absolute
monarchical form of government to that
of a republic about seven years ago.
The country is going through much the
same difficulties in organizing new
government that America experienced
and that all countries have experienced
in past history. We have no special
brief to offer for China In this connec-
ton. for the country has been hopelessly
exploited by its own 'tuchuns" or OFF,
cials Of the older class. The develop
ment of a stable government has been de-
layed and handicapped because of the in
cessant meddling OF the Japanese. who
lend money on both sides and whose in
trigues have served TO keep the country
in an eternal mess since the revolution.
Our main reason for bringing these
matters to your attention is TO show you
and the members of our organization
that America has a deep and vital in
terest in the development of China.
About twenty years ago Japan, from the
standpoint of foreign trade and internal
development was approximately in the
same condition that China is to-day.
From the standpoint of rapid develop
ment Japan had great advantage over
China, since she possessed n strong
central government and a strong feeling
of nationalism. Commissioners from
Japan sent abroad to study conditions
on other countries fixed upon the Ger
man system as n model the general
plan of governmental educational. police
and military reorganization finally de-
cided upon was the German system and
was directly dictated by Bismarck.
The adoption OF the efficient German
system in Japan had its advantages in the
past, but now in the light OF a new under
standing 1t has its distinct disadvan-
tages Japan is now dominated by
militarism that Is potentially Just as dan
gerous as was the German militarism
that America helped to crush. Japan is
now working to FIX her control on the
Aslatic mainland. The Corean PENN
sula furnished the frst stepping stone
and then followed Manchuria. Shantung
province and Fukien province Of China
are now to follow unless something Is
done by America to prevent II. with
Chinas unlimited resources of minerals,
foodstuffs and man power under control
of the Japanese militarists. the next war
is bound TO be in the Pacific and Amer
lea is certain to be drawn into it With
the great distance involved and with the
almost certain racial element involved,
Il doesn't require much Imagination to
foresee the future.
There is a small liberal democratic
element In Japan that has potentlalities
for the future If America will but take
a decided stand for right and Justice at
the present time. With a decided stand
on the part of the American Government
the forces of democracy both In Japan
and China will be strengthened and the
people themselves viii solve the problem.
In the archives of the State Depart
ment at Washington is to be found a
complete record OF Japanese underhand
intrigue in China since the beginning OF
the war. In the correspondence of the
American Legation at Pekin and the
American Consulate at Tsingtao Is all