The Washington herald., 1919-05-07
League of Nations Saved
By Wilson When He Placed
Japanese Interests First
Toxic Would Have Withdrawn Had Not Pres
ident Interposed His Solution of Eastern
Problem When Crisis Loomed.

feet international poker party"
Wherein the Japs have been sit
Ting four long months with their
cards close to their vests, smiling,
protecting each ante. saying moth
ing-absolutely nothing. During
the discussion concerning European
boundaries, European economic set
Elements and European map-mak-
ing. the japanese delegates literally
uttered no word-not one. They
presented their demand for race
equality blandly, saw it slaughtered
publicly wept briny tears and pub
licly promised to suffer and be
strong and support the league OF
nations; all the time realizing that
this public martyrdom for the race
made stronger their demands fol
economic advantage.
The Japanese saw England get
colonies. France get military pro.
lection. America get prestige and
Italy get permission to spend ten
days at home and they smiled sill.
entity. Offering no adjustment, sug.
GestinE no compromise. taking nc
part, but keeping keen eyes on the
run of the cards. knowing every
advantage others received and look.
ing the other way or benignIy
agreeing that Providence is indeed
wise and just. Then. Japan finding
that the run of the game made hcl
necessary to the success of world
peace. carefully rolled up heI
sleeves, put her hands in and
grabbed.
Plays Stntesmnn's Part.
Yet for all this sordid aspect oi
Japan's case, resident Wilson ha.
played a statesman's part in accedinc
to the Japanese claims. To com.
home proudly defyinG Japan. but
without the peace of the world guar.
anteed by the League of Nations
might make the resident immenseI,
popular for a day or a year. He had
a splendid talking point in the failur.
TO carry out his ideals. But a taIkipc
point only.
Wilson'S situation was this. 4 dvna.
mic nation increasing at the rate OF
n million year. EXPANSION n .:hc
a-estern hemisphere Htreate,p ,ht
United states. cxpension in the Islands
threatening Australia, and with thes.
japanese menaces certain expansion
In Asia. The expansion is inevitable
The question arose shall expansion he
controlled by Il selfish Diplomatic aIli-
ance with Germany, or shall it be con.
trolled by powerful and wise League
or Nations? To send the Japanese
home would not decrease the birth
rate
But it would force japan into m
alliance with Germany and Russia tc
Hircct Japanese expansion through
purely selfish ends with no considera
ton of the worlds best developmeut
outside the League of Nations Japan
Is menace to Caucasian civilization
in the Pacific. Inside the league
Japan, even though she takes control
withlall- Japan.ifwetaofwaoif ofwyI
OF China commercially. even thougi,
she becomes the dominating Oriental
power. will be held in leash by
France. nEland and America. Fol
Wilson to refuse compromise be-
cause two evils confronted him when
the greater evil was so dangerous tc
civilization, would have been folly
Made Dominant Power.
IL
league of nations. making 1t the DOM
mating force in the world. 1t is. OF
course. momentarily only the balance
of power but still a strong balance OF
power capable of enforcing world
peace for at least a decade. During
this period the worlds will for peace
and economic international measures
should become strong enough 10 fiH
the habit of peace upon civilization il
the leagues plan of progressive dis
armament prevails. Americas mex.
tTicablr ENHANCEMENT in Europc rs
the worlds money lender makes re-
tirement impossible. however desir
able.
We can't resume our old isolation
We are forever a part of world civil
lization-Asiatic, African, European
as well as American. If Wilson had
make n fake gesture of retiring be-
cause he was frustrated in Japanes,
aspirations he might have retired
amid ignorant applause, but with 6
curse fastened upon his country
which would have meant war in Tho
Orient between two league of nations
He therefore compromised, trading
sheer justice in the Orient for a guar
antee of world peace under the leagu,
of nations until a generation rise.
with aspirations for peace which ma,
make further material guarantees un-
necessary. 1t is a long chance. The
odds are somewhat against It. Blu
still it was worth taking and thC
President staked his future reputa.
ton against present popularity il
taking the chance. 1t is easy t.
sneer. to criticise, to point out glar-
ing Inconsistencies. But in the end il
is not consistency but common sense
that will meet the approval of time.
Copyright. 1913. by the Wheeler Syndicate)