New-York tribune., 1919-09-16
The Word of japan
By Baron Goto
Former imperial Minister Of Foreign A fairs

Japan internationally. The Chinese are only
using Shantung s q political lever to boy
colt Japan. will not discuss the matter
from the point Of view of international
morality, which China appears to have for
gotten, do I wish to blame the propa-
gandist, but | feel convinced that the his
torians of the future will handle the vari-
facts in a manner likely to bring honor
to Japan, and thus disperse the suspicious
which have been raised concerning her
real motives.
The important schism between the north
! and the south of China, between Peking and
Canton, has led the Allied powers to recon-
mend a friendly compromise. This COM
promise cannot, I think, be reached i'm
mediatcly, because when we study the his
tory Of China we find that some such con-
fict Of political parties seems always to
have been going on. Nevertheless, l feel
sure that in the long the north and the
south will become reunited. There is a
certain separatist movement are
those who believe that there should be two
governments-bu for myself I cannot con-
ceive conditions of tranquility In China un-
til reunion has taken place. The time will
come when the two contending factions will
realize that their interests viii be better
served If they become reconciled. Probably
to further the restoration of unity the
powers have refrained from recognizing the
Canton government, notwithstanding the
peoples eagerness for recognition. It is
very disadvantageous for Japan to have
neighbor who is without a stable govern
ment.
Attention should be drawn TO the agree
ment between China and Japan of Septem-
Der "a. 1918, an agreement suggested by
the Chinese. This agreement was made be-
tween the two nations as preliminary to
the restoration to China by Japan of the
Shantung province. If the opinion Of the
Chinese government at that time was that
Shantung should be restored by Germany
through the medium Of the ultimate peace
treaty and not through the hands of Japan,
there no need for China to enter into
such agreement with Japan Of her own
free will and at her own instigation. #
Japan had no intention Of restoring Shan
tung to China the Toxic Cabinet could
not have accepted China's proposal, since
the agreement candidly stipulated that the
province should be handed over to the
Chinese.
To turn TO another question, although I
have heard that Japan is not popular in the
public mind OF America at present. hold
the opinion that if Americans as a whole
once understood the true situation thor
oughly all their suspicious would vanish.
Reasons OF policy. no doubt, blind or bias
some Americans. President Wilson adopted
courageous and very fair attitude in read
ing the facts as they really were, without
prejudice misdirected sentiment. when he
gave his most just decision on the Shantune
problem.
perceive that in some quarters. both IN
England and America, there is & tendency to
oNer-estimate Japan. There is an equal
tendency TO underestimate Japan in certain
other quarters, but even with these two
contradictory ideas of Japan, there is one
thing which is unmistakable in both ey
tremes-that is the impression that JaDan
cannot be ignored so far as the Orient is
concerned. Now, in our past international
history We have kept a thoroughly clean
record in maintaining treaty obligations.
and Japan is rather proue Of this fact
therefore, when Japan gives her word Of
honor she can safely be relied upon, since
her good faith is above reproach We can
cite concrete example. Take Japan's
policy toward Russia. Russia is now in
the throes of great difficulty and she is
quite different to the Russia before
the war. But Japan had given her word
Of honor to support Russia Therefore. as
all the world knows, Japan has been con-
slstent throughout in rendering help IN
order to hasten the recovery of the Russian
people. Great Britain. America and otbars
cannot ignore her attitude in this con-
necuon. Japan has been working in ner-
1ect harmony with these countries for the
salvation of Russia. This will explain ber
altrulstlc policy toward her other neiebbor
China Japan's policy toward China is
IT TACT dictated by the same spirit Of
friendliness and helpfulness.