The Ocala evening star., 1919-09-22
WILSON EXPLAINS
CASE OF JAPAN

Aboard President Wilson's Spe-
tion that he has encountered any
where on his Atlantic to Pacific tour
presented itself to President Wilson
in San Francisco, the metropolis Of
the state represented in the senate
by Hiram w. Johnson. But, once
again, as has always been the case.
the logic of the chief executive and
his forceful eloquence won the plain
people, regardless Of how their pO-
litical chieftain stands. The ordinary
citiZenry Of that part Of California Is
for the league of nations and for the
quick ratification of the peace treaty,
with the league included.
Many think that Woodrow Wilson
and Hiram Johnson will be the con-
testants in 1920 for the presidency OF
the United States; but q majority OF
those who are forwarding the candi-
dacy of CaIifornia's favorite son wish
he had not made the league his issue,
or, now that he has done so, they
wish he would drop II here on the
Pacific coast, just the same as in the
middle west and the east. The people
want peace right now, a peace that
will be permanent-and they want to
get things settled and start in doing
business.
Dislike Shantunp Provision
Because the Pacific coast Ii
more interested in Japan than is any
other section which the president has
visited, he devoted the greater part
of his early addresses in California
to the question Of Shantung. He ad-
mitted that the settlement In regard
to that peninsula was not to his liking,
but asserted that it was the best set
tlement that could be effected when he
was dealing with the other great pow
ers in Paris. 81 said to my Japanese
colleague on the other side OF the
sea-and, therefore, I am at liberty
to say to you-that / am not satisfied
with this settlement" The president
told two audiences on his first day
I'm San Francisco: II think it ought to
be different, but, when gentlemen pre-
pose to cure it by striking that clause
out of the treaty, or by ourselves with
lOlQlUR 6QnOEOACC ~ SAO SAOS~@J' S~S
propose an irrational thing"
Gives History OF shantunS
The president told some Of the his
tory of the Shantung incident. In
1898, he explained, China ceded the
territory to Germany, upon the de-
mand of that empire, because some
German missionaries had been killed
there. "They made an excuse OF re-
lfgion," he declared. Then Russia
took a port, and then England, and
then France. When the Ruseo-Japan'
ese war developed japan conquered
Port Arthur. America might have had
one of the Chinese ports also, Mr.. VII
son explained, but President Mck1n'
lev believed that inasmuch as their
doors were open to our commerce, We
did not want one and, at the same
time, we need not object to the other
powers having theirs.
When the great war Of 1914 came
the president said, IL was imperative
that the Pacific ocean be kept clear
Of German shipping and that the Ger
man possessions In the far east be con
quered. 1t was up to Japan, ne SAID
to do these things, and Japan did. She
took Shantung and kept 1t, that DO
ing her reward, by reason OF treaty
she had with England and France, fol
her share In the war.
observe this" the president said
in explaining the incident, I'VE are
not taking this territory away from
China, as some gentlemen have as
serted, but We are taking 1t away from
Germany. Germany. not China, held
Shantung before this war-it was Ger
man rights, not Chinese rights, thai
were ceded to japan by the treaty with
England and France. Shantung viii
be returned, in due time, to China. ia
pan has given us her solemn promise
that this will be done. Japan will re
tain only what private corporation
have In possession elsewhere In Chins
the right Of concessionaires with
regard to the operation Of the railroad
and mines"
The president repeated that he die
not approve OF this secret treaty. bu'
he was unable to overcome it. Their
he pointed out that, with the league
of nations In effect, the representa-
ttves Of the United States might rise
and say: This is against the cove
nant Of peace-it cannot be done
Then he went on: And IL occasion
arises, we can say, it shall not be
done"
No More War II League Wins
The rest of Mr. Wilson's address
was devoted to the benefits OF the
league to the weak nations OF the
world and the unlikelihood that there
would ever be war if the powers dis
cussed and arbitrated their differ
ences.
San Francisco gave the president {
cordial, though scarcely stirring, re
ception. The greeting did not have
the warmth of Seattle, ST. Paul or st
Louis, although there was generous
applause for the distinguished CUES
wherever he moved. More than on'
hundred persons lined the streets lead
ing from the Sausan to ferry as ID
arrived. Then about fifteen hundred
women attended a noontime luncheon
I'm his honor; and in the evening ter
thousand heard him at the Civic audi
torium.
Cat ron1u xxov1~ We