New-York tribune., 1919-07-25
My Wilson Yielded to Lapon
BY Frederick Moore


The Tribune Corresponde
"HE President had given hope to the
Chinese and to his advisers on Far
Eastern matters that he would stand
for the settlement which the Chinese
sought, and the news came as bomb
she'll to both the Americans at the Ho-
tel de Crillon and the Chinese at the
Hotel Lutetia when Mr. Wilson sudden
ly agreed to the full text of the clauses
which the Japanese desired to have in
serted in the treaty. Late the same after
noon Colonel House did not know that the
decision had been made at the closed meet
ing Of the council of four, which was held,
as usual, at the Presidents residence. The
news had been given to the press and was
cabled to the United States and Great Brit
ain, and probably to Japan before the Presi-
dent took the trouble to inform the majority
of his own staff that he intended to capitu-
late from the position that majority had
assumed.
Colonel House, who always advocated ap-
proximately the settlement to which the
President finally agreed was, far as
know, the only outstanding figure in the
American delegation who sympathized with
the japanese and took the view of the Brit
ish and French delegations in the Shantung
controversy.
Postponement Sought
When the council of four, having failed
to agree on the Adriatic problem, took up
that of Shantung, the Japanese delegate,
Maxine, who had not previously pressed his
presence on the President and the European
premiers, now Joined the council. The four
had previously sought to relegate Shantung
to future settlement, proposing, because Of
Mr.. Wilson's original attitude, to require
Germany to cede her China concessions to
the league of nations, which would later con-
slider whether japan should obtain q man
date; but the Japanese refused to consent
to this, insisting that the transfer be made
direct to them. They intimated, if they did
not actually state, that they would other
wise refuse to sign the treaty.
Some Of the Presidents advisers thought
that the Japanese were in no position to
make good such threat and would not do
so--that they were blufing-but the Presi-
dent feared they would actually withdraw
and realized that the consequences might be
Italian delegations withdrawal
Italy Not Dangerous
There is no danger Of serious issue with
Italy. Italy cannot annex Fiume in defiance
of the President because of her terrible
financial plight. The President could pre-
vent further financial and material assist
ance to Italy and could support terms in
the Hungarian and Turkish treaties (Which
are still unconcluded) unfavorabe to Italy.
But Japan is in stronger position. She
has profitcd greatly by the war and has
suffered little loss. And the sentiment
which we are wont to talk makes the ma
jorty of Japanese people regard us as
hypocrites. Pious excuses were given by
President Fillmore and Commodore Perry
when they compelled the Japanese in 1853
to open their doors for the sake of Ameri
can traders; pous excuses were given by
the British, the Dutch, French and others
who followed us in assaults upon Japan, and
finally by the Russians in their aggressions
upon Chinese and Corean sovereignty,
thereby menacing Japan's indc pendence. 1t
was the white nations which, up to the
present, taught the Japanese that it was
necessary W lHelr Salcty W PoSScoS PoWet
and resources, and, having insufficient nat
ural wealth of their own, the Japanese are
seeking it in that extensive undeveloped
storehouse which lies at their door the
continent Of Asia. And the methods of the
Japanese in seeking wealth in China
those that were taught her by the white
nations, not excluding the United States.
Our Missionary Aims
Our interests in China are primarily mis-
sionary not trade. Being the richest coun-
try in the world, it is not necessary for the
United States to search for treasure
abroad but nevertheless, only twenty
years ago we imposed by force Of arms a
treaty on China, compelling her to permit
our missionaries to travel, reside and teach
in all her provinces: and to-day we main
tain gunboats at the headwaters of the
Yangtse River, in Szechuan Province, for
the purpose of protecting American mis-
sionares and the few traders and travellers
who from time to time penetrate to that re-
mote interior province.
To our American way of thinking, this is
fair, because we believe we are doing good
work and have no intention of annexing
Chinese territory; and we have Cat presently
no complaint from China on the score of
our military and naval privileges there, be-
cause we have been following, since tho
year Of the Russian defeat in Manchuria,
1905, a policy definitely favorable to China.