The sun., 1919-09-04
Ha..Taken Nothing From China.

Japan has taken nothing FROM China
In Shantung. but proposes to give her
| much. No one can contradict the phys
! ical fact that when Japan waged war
against Kiao-Chou that German ter
ritory and other German possessions in
Shantung were gripped in German hands
Tsingtao. the German stronghold,
was defended by some 5000 Germans,
with every prospect of getting reinforce
ments from other parts of China. The
Shantung Railway was openly employed
in transporting such reinforcements as
well as war supplies for the German for
LITIGATION. In the face OF this condition
China was alike powerless and inactive.
Impressed by Germany's military
powers China dared not lift even A
finger against the Kaiser's military and
naval base established on her own soil.
She did not make even a feint of protest
against the Illegal use by Germany of
the Shantung Railway for military pur-
poses. 1t was our army, and navy which
broke the German grip upon Shantung
and freed that province from the clutches
Of Prussian militarism. What We have
taken in Shantung was taken from Ger
many, not from China. This point can
not be too strongly emphasized when so
| many people are INDUCING in loose talk.
declaring that Japan has perpetrated
piracy in Shantung. We have taken alb
solutely nothing from China. confess
my utter inability to comprehend how
Japan could have robbed China of what
she did not possess.
Resents Charge of Piracy.
at is now proposed to readjust the
conditions in that province for the ben
eft of China Kiao-Chau, which was to
al! intents and purposes coded to Ger
many. is to be given back TO China In
the disposition of every other German
right in Shantung we propose to confer
upon China very substantial benefit. If
this be an act of piracy all benefactors
ami philanthrOpists must be pirates and
robbers.
TT is we'll to bear clearly in mind
that China has not sacrificed one life
nor given ore tael to recover Kiao-
Chau and the rights she coded to Ger
many in Shantung. Nor has she as
sumed any risk or responsibility in the
whole matter. Japan, besides sacrificing
much in wrestling them from the German
grip. has assumed a heavy responsibility
and all the risks attendant on the doubt
full issue of the war when she volun-
tarly made an engagement in 1915 that
Kiao-Chau would be restored TO China.
Who was sure in those earlier days of
1915 as TO the final issue OF the war?
''All the sacrifices. risks and RESPONSE
b.lity for Japan: no sacrifice. no risk no
responsibility. but benefits only. for
China. Does this appeal to you as fair
or as common sense?
Apart from this particular phase Of
tho Far Eastern question, 7 may point
out that no one can deny the fact that
China owes Japan much for the preser-
walton of her territorial integrity.
would be overstating the case were to
say that Japan fought primarily and
mainly for China.
"Of course Japan fought and strug-
gled for her own self-preservation. but
ir doing so Japan also saved China.
Where would China have been had
Japan not been ready to fight in 1914?
1T is regrettable that many of the ut
terances on the Shantung question show
little disposition to see things in the
right perspective or to give a correct ap-
probation of facts"