El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-01


characterized as Americas backdown
before Japan. I give without vOuch-
ing for the facts the account current
in well-informed quarters here of the
course OF the Shantung negotiations,
which the majority Of people on the
coast would like TO see repudiated by
the senate in reservation to the
peace treaty
President Wilson, was told by an
important politician who professed to
have inside knowledge Of what hap
Bened in Paris, was tricked BY the
japanese delegates, who worked upon
his passion for the league of nations.
Before I left Paris in the spring some
thing OF this sort was in the air. and
1 wrote a dispatch predicting that the
japanese game would he TO refuse
to enter the league without guaran-
tees Of Shantung and a Monroe doc
trine in Asia
President stood Alone.
According to my informant here.
who is in a position to know what
happened in Paris, during the closing
phases Of the negotiations the entire
American peace delegation with the
exception Of the president opposed
the granting Of Shantung to the nil
kadO. Wilson gave way in order to
persuade Japan 10 enter the league
Of nations. A letter exists written
by Gen. IasEer h. Bliss, and Endorsed
by secretary Robert Lansing and
Henry White, protesting to the presi-
dent against making the surrender.
II was contended by the ma
j0rify OF the American delegation.
ms Il is held here, that the United
States has acted In bad faith to-
wards China. American persua-
sion pulled China into the war,
and the state department Mt the
time promised TO protect Chinese
territorial interests ut the peace
conference.
Neither Wilson nor Lansing then
knew Of the secret agreements made
IN 1917 whereby England France and
Italy had pledged themselves TO sup
ment, and when these pledges were
laid on the table il was found impos-
sible 10 redeem both them and the
american promise to China. It was
the latter that went by the boards
only the tradition that foreign pol
icy should be A perogatiye OF the
state department in Washington
makes IL impossible for me to quote
by name a distinguished Californian
now holding office who gave a strik-
ing view of the oriental situation as
it affects the United States
Supremacy Stm CHALLENGED.
Until the present time" said this
man, struggles for world power were
struggles for dominion in Europe.
Germany's attempt was fought out
dragged down with her Austria and
Russia, and irrevocab1v weakened
France and italy Americans do not
seem to realize that the war has for
ever ended the unchallenged supre-
macy Of Europe in world rulership.
We must no longer fix our eyes
on Europe TO the exclusion OF the
rest of the world We must real
Ire that there are now three great
world powers. and only three
Britain, America and Japan. In
Europe. in the Americas and in
Asia. one Of these three f. su-
preme. Each commands its own
area OF TIE world surface.
In each case sea power belongs to !
he dominant nation. and no other !
country n the world has any to speak |
u. The luck OF geography no doubt |
accounts for Britain's supremacy. say. |
,ver France. But on the whole. acct /
Tents OF location aside. the three 1
dominant world powers deserve their |
POSITION by their national characters.
which have built I'd their financial 1
Ind economic as well as military su- /
ieriority in their own spheres.
You see how these facts. which Il
an hardly be disputed. upset the old |
heory Of the balance Of power in
europe as the world equilibrium. The \
Use Of America and Japan coincident |
With the eclipse Of Germany and Il
russia has changed all that II Is
n the Pacific and Asia. not in the /
ltlantic and Europe. that think the
ound-
japan Danger Point.
The problem of the peace OF the
World. It seems TO me. Is to keep l
he three dominant powers. each su-
rene in its own region. from quar-
cling Britain has interests all over
he world. But she is replete with
erritory. and her policy OF free trade
n her dependencies reduces chances
Z friction American policy is peace
III TO the extreme. because America
as everything she wants. The dan
er is Japan. because Japan alone OF
he three supreme powers has not ]
called her national aims. and can
OF do so without overriding the prin-
iples OF the league of nations and |
reading on American II not British
orns-
1T is beyond question that the pol
- Of the japanese imperialists IS to
'radually absorb China and Siberia.
low as between America and Britain.
With their ties OF law. language. liter
ture and blood. conflict now or ever
; to me unthinkable. But II history
\ the future is to parallel history
n the past. the gradual rise Of an
rental power TO an equality with
he two greatest white countries
aust give rise TO serious dangers"
What Is your solution? / asked
5 he paused. Japan is not now.
q army or fleet or finance. the equal
Z America or Britain Would you
5roid her to become so7"
i do not say that" he answered.
am no lingo. The greatness OF
aFan as a ruling nation in half q
ord Of incompetent peoples is evil
emit To attempt TO forcihly sup
ress Japan would be. I think. to try
D turn back the clock OF progress.
ut we out here who watch Japan ,
losely believe there IS a party Of
eace and progress in the island that
{ the militarists. If the great middle
ass the merchants and the people,
0ntrol the Japanese government.
here is a strong chance that Japan's
fforts will be concentrated on fair
numerical rivalry with the west in
he markets OF the east. and that sin
ter plans to dominate two-thirds OF
he population Of the world will be
ropped."
Interests Threatened in East.
And If they are not dropped2''
"Our government" the Californian
spiied. 'is remiss in that It keeps its
re exclusively on Europe. Our in
rests at. this moment are far more
lreatened in Asia and In the Pacific.
fashineton should adont a Just but
rn policy regarding China and ST.
eria, and should stick to fits guns
this were done now. there would
e loud protests. hut no more The
merican people should be educated T
} the fact that whereas we are now
position to control political de-
slopments in the far east. we may
Of possess the mower for many Years