Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-28
The Shantung. Question

(By Consul Oy Anna at Los Anseles)
AS for Shantung question, when
Japan took possession of .Kiaochow
by force of arms in 1914, China re-
met with protest from China. Since
November, 1914. Japan had occupied
Kiaochow and its railway by right of
conquest. Three years afterward, hat
Is, 1917, China declared war against
Germany. But the declaration of war
remained only on paper, as China did
not actually participate in the wal
China's declaration Of war under the
circumstances could not possibly
change the state of things which had
existed since 1914. Therefore, the
Chinese argument that China's decla-
ration of war against Germany had
annulled the leasehold treaty Of 1893
had no legal ground, in view of the
fact that Japan had, three years be-
fore China's. declaration Of war, re-
placed Germany in Shantung. How
ever. Japan in the spirit Of goodwill
to China initiated and offered to sur
render to China the occupied district
of Kiaochow upon the transfer of the
said district by the peace conference,
and that intention has been trans
formed into the treaty of 1915. There
remains another concession, an eco
nomic concession. which Japan is to
retain in her hands.
Was Advantageous.
Here, again, Japan's goodwill to
China went so far as to offer to with
draw her civic and military admins
tration from the railway zone and
making the railway the joint enter
prise of Japan and China, instead of
absolute foreign administration. as it
was under the German occupation.
ALI these offers of Japan was of the
great advantage to China. as China
was entirely powerless to ecove
these concessions by her own means.
There seems to be some confusion re-
garding the extent of the district in
question. It is not the Shantung pc
ninsula, as often reported in Ameri-
a newspapers. but a small part of
it, in an area much less than 200
square miles. st 49,
Regarding the Korean situation.
the trouble is, greatly exaggerated and
over-stated. Unprecedented observers
will testify as to whether japanese
rule has really been cursk or blessing
matter Of fact. the condition Of life
in Esrea has been greatly improved
und-' the Japanese administration.
Japan is prepared to guide them kind
ly and give them benevolent admins
tration. Japan is young n untried
IN the art or colonization. 1t is not
altogether unnatural for her to see
he country of Morning Calm dis
turbed for sometime in future, in
view of Irish difficulty for England
which she still experiences after an
endeavcr for three centuries in assim-
Hating the Irish race 1t is a matter
of great regret that the trouble has
happened. but it has now passed away.
According to the recent announce
ment made by Mr.. Hara. the prime
minister of Japan. it seems that a
comprehensive plan of reform is al
ready in the shape. and will be soon
put into effect as soon as a legal pro-
cedure to make them definite shall
have been completed. pa.
1t seems, ladies and gentlemen, that
the Europeans and Americans were
prone at times to be exceedingly Sc
we're in their criticism of Japan's poll
cN and her actions. They, often made
such a noise over our actions as they
would never in the case of people
more closely related to them racially.
In fact. they seem to set up a stand
ard of Judgment toward Japanese
much higher than the standard they
themselves desire to be judged by.
The Japanese have merits and short
hands. just as any other people. and
their only wish is that they be judged
by the western nations as the latter
judges one another.