Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-04-11
BALKS At LEAGUE
WITH RACIAL BARS
Japan Is Unwilling to Take a
Back Seat.
PEACE ENVOY GIVES WARNING
Baron Maxine, in Formal Statement,
Declares His People Are Too
Proud to Accept Position of
Admitted inferiority.

Paris, April 3-Baron Maxine. head
Of the Japanese delegation to the
peace conference, in statement on
the position of Japan, said:
"YOu ask me for a plain and frank
statement of the position of Japan.
Well, am tempted to ask you ques-
ton in reply:
'Do you think it possible for me to
say anything that will not be willful-
ly distorted and misinterpreted by
those who have so long and so per-
sistently sought to clog the efforts of
my country, to ascribe to her motives
she has never had and to malign her
at every turn? Let US see.
GAS to the United States, Japan has
a very sincere, abiding and affection
are regard. We owe to her our place
in the world-that is to say in the civ
iliZed world. Perhaps l should not al
together agree to that phrase, because
you know, and everyone should know,
that Japan has enjoyed a civilization
all her own for many ages. 1t was
civilization born of the highest sense
of honor, of the sense which the West
could not understand or appreciate,
because we had lived apart as hermit
nation.
"When through the expedition of
Commodore Perry and the efforts of
Townsend and Harris we joined, if |
may say so, the league of nations Of
the world, we took on new ambition,
which was to interpret the civilization
Of the Western nations which we had
studied and recognized as better, al
though not all were more honorable
than our own.
"You will note here that America
was the first country to agree to make
a treaty with us abOliShing eXtra-terri-
toriality. You must remember that we
did not ask to join this first league of
nations. We were forced to do so.
Perry came to us with naval power
and forces to compel us to open Japan
to intercourse with the Western world.
1--WE yielded, and l am glad, us is
all Japan, that we did yield, because
1t has been of great benefit to our
country.
"And now we are asked a second
time to join a league of nations. But
how? AS equals? If So we are ready.
We want to consider with the greatest
care the interests of all our associate
nations in such a league. because by
no other policy can the league of ma
lions succeed.
mo Asiatic nation could he happy
in q league of nations in which sharp
racial discrimination is maintained.
While we feel very keenly on this
point, our precise position must not
be understood or misrepresented.
Too Proud" to Be Inferior.
"We are not to proud to fight, but
we are too proud to accept a place Of
admitted inferiority in dealing with
one or more associate nations. We
want nothing but simple justice. We
are glad to join the league of nations
and do our full share in the main
tenance of the worlds peace and or
der and the reign of justice for all peO-
pies.
'We do not wish to impose our Ia
boring classes as immigrants upon any
of our associate countries. We rec
ognize that this question is one with
which each nation must deal individu-
ally and we have voluntarily shown
our good faith by our observance of
the so-called gentlemen's agreement
wifi To
withstanding that the principle is in
direct cOntravention of the measures
adopted by the Western powers in fore
ing the door of our hermit kingdom.
No Objection to Root Plan.
1--WE do not object to the prOviso
suggested by Elihu Root, safeguarding
his country on the subject of internal
administration. His proposition APP
plies alike to all countries. We want
no special privileges.
"What we do say and feel is that we
are entitled to frank and open adj
mission by the allies. with whom we
have fought and will fight for a free
and civilized world, beside whose sons
our men have died, that the principle
Of equity and Justice is a fundamental
tenet of the league. This applies, of
course, only to the conduct of govern
ment and cannot govern the likes or
dislikes, or even the tastes of indi-
viduals which are their own.
1--WE see difficulties in the way of q
permanent and successful operation of
this league of nations unless the con-
tracing parties enter it with mutual
respect Marriages of convenience too
often breed distrust and discord rather
than contentment"