The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-09-05
SHAN TUNG

the PHILIPPINES are now ready to gov
ern themselves; there are those who
hold that more time is required. There
are occasional debates in Congress
about WHEN? But there is no ques-
ton about the intimate aim of all
our people to give the PHILIPPINES their
freedom.
How would we like to have Japan
and other nations say to US, "Come
on, you promised; deliver now?
Japan feels the same way about
Tsingtau, and the concessions in the
province. Japan, at her own sacrifice,
made it possible for China to get rid
of Germany, and, naturally, resents
being pushed to return that which
China could not have gotten back in
side of 10 years, if then.
Enter politics.
President Wilson, Democrat, was
the outstanding figure of the world.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Republican,
was the leader in the Senate.
Mr.. Lodge looked for an issue.
The Senator could not attack the
great features of the League of Ma
tions because they were built to stop
future wars.
He heard the cry from China and
jumped to it.
He did not know much about it,
so he went to his encyclopedia; he
stated this himself on the floor of the
Senate. There he learned about
Shantung.
Germany had the concessions there
for twenty years without the slightest
tinge of an outrage to Senator
Lodges feelings.
Japan had driven Germany out,
without any outcry whatever from
the Senator.
But now, NOW, with presidential
campaign coming on, the Senator
must have moral issue, and Shan
tung is 1T.
We have been told that 40,000,000
citizens of China and $4,000 square
miles of territory were forced under
the rule of Japan, which is not true.
Directly under the rule of Japan
is what equals a strip about 10 miles
by l 6 miles, with fewer than 100000
people.
But it is not fair to say that that is
all Japan controls, for in her control
of railroad and mining rights she can
effect the economic life of China far
beyond her leasehold rights, but it
does not bring 40,000,000 subjects of
Japan by long shot.
Japan holds that her word is as
goo das the word of any Other nation
on earth; nor does it seem possible
that she shall break the word given
in her treaty to China, knowing as she
does that As other nations are looking
on, expecting fulfillment.
At the time of this writing, Presi-
dent Wilson is working with China
and Japan, hoping to get Japan to
name, and China to accept, date OF
delivery that will be acceptable to
both. Such may be accomplished be-
tween the time of writing and printing
this but in no way will affect the his
torical facts stated therein.
g., And it may work out best for China
after all.
China got sample of German eff
cheney in building and engineering,
and was finally freed of the danger
of German militarism.
Japan took up the work, and it is
understood that the mass of railroads
and rolling stock and mining equip
ment will be turned back to China.
Could China handle them now?
Wouldn't it be blessing to that
mass of humanity, huddled together
in that small province, to have Using
tau there a sample of modern civil
fzed city. to have the modern methods
of mining and railroading there, all
forced on them against their will and
all left three for their own develop
ment, without the handicap of the
military spirit that brought them
there?
Suppose Senator Lodge has his way
and the League of Nations is turned
down. Japan still has her treaty with
China, her recognized rights there,
without her promise to the world to
get out in a reasonable time.
Refusing to ratify will not drive
Japan out of China; it will leave her
there-leaving her to deal with China
alone.-Dearborn Independent
IT, N1nr;otAn Inurna1 has hean Uthp