The sun., 1919-09-10
NIPPON CABINET
PAVING WAY TO
QUIT SHANTUNG
Domestic Problems Must
First Be Solved, Says
japanese Writer.
INSIDE FACTS REVEALED
! Nation Will Fulfil Every
.Promise-Cooperation With
China Sought.
INSIDE FACTS REVEALED
Written Especially for the Far Eastern
Section Of THE SUN BY
X. k. KAwAKAMI.

X. X. KAwAFxAMI.
Author of "Jdpon and World Peace"
"Asto at the Door," "Amertcon
Jdponese Relations" DO.
No Japanese liberal would deny that
an ideal settlement Of the .shantung
question would be the complete sur
render by the Japanese of all German
rights and holdings in that province in
favor of China.
Had we been Chinese and admitted
into the peace congress we might have
done everything that the Chinese ENJOYS
had done TO evict the Japanese from
Shantung. In the minds OF many people
the end justines the means We should
have no quarrel with our Chinese
friends who have fought their battles so
valiantly and SO astutely. On the con-
trary, we should have deep sympathy
and high admiration for them
But at the same time, 1t Is well to
remember that no problem of this ma
ture has ever been solved in an ideal
way. Problems affecting the foreign re-
lations Of China are SO complicated
that Il seems neither just nor practicable
to solve them without taking into con-
| sideration the correlation OF the posi-
tons and policies Of all nations inter-
ested in that country.
II Is, therefore, not surprising that
| the controversy over Shantung should
end in q compromise, restoring to China
the substantial rights and advantages
which had been denied her under the
| German regime, but still permitting
Japan to engage herself in certain eco
nomio enterprises in cooperation with
the Chinese.
Peace Result of Compromises
1t may be safely said that the peace
treaty Itself is the result Of oompro-
misses and concessions on the part Of all
Powers concerned. Had the Powers
! stood uncompromisingly upon their re-
spective rights, each bent upon pushing
its own interests with no regard for the
claims of the others, there would have
been (and II may reasonably be asked II
there ever will be) treaty Of peace with
its covenant Of the League Of Nations.
Let us emphasize this point with q few
| illustrations.
No rational minded man will, I take
II, deny that the recognition OF the
| Monroe Doctrine in tho interest OF the
United States is not in perfect conso-
nance with the basic principles of the
league. And yet Powers have accepted
that doctrine. because the United States
! Is powerful enough to enforce her will
| In the concouree of nations. and be-
| cause the Powers are well aware that.
| without the recognition of the Doctrine,
America cannot be expected to join the
| league.
Again. take the race equality pro-
posal advanced by the Japanese delega-
ton, do not see how any statesman,
advocating justice and humanity, could
conscientiously reject that proposal
which Is in principle right and just and
incontestable. And yet there are certain
adverse factors which make it difficult
to put this obviously just principle into
i execution. These factors are as real
as this principle is right, and they have
| to be considered. Between the two q
compromise Is inevitable, and the
japanese wisely desisted from pushing
the proposal.
Must BENEFIT All Nations.
An ideal League OF Nations must be
one which Is not satisfied with the
travesty of equity, but which endeavors
to carry out its professed principles OF
II 1t Is impossible to apply socialistiC
doctrines to the distribution of territory
and resources among nations. the new
world regime must at least seek &C
throw open the doors of each country
to the people OF the others, and thus
afford an opportunity for the materia
betterment to those peoples which have
been compelled to remain in their small
congested countries. If the League o.
= l.
can conscientiously and logically cal
upon Japan to evacuate Shantung.
One finds 1t difficult to recognize tn,
Justice OF a theory or a condition which
forbids the people of an overcrowded
small, resourceless country from seeking
opportunities or raw materials abroad
while some peoples are allowed no
only TO occupy vast and sparsely popu
lated territories full Of natural re
sources but also to erect Chinese wal
around such territories for the exclusion
of the very peoples which need breath
ing space most badly.
Frank p. Walsh. attacking the Brit
ish passport system as applied to tn
Irish. said recently:
ITO begin a true reign of democrac,
in the world the Sail doors erecte
throughout the world by the passpor
system must be battered down by tn
democrats who understand the tru
mSaning OF the words liberty and free
! DOM
Quite true. But we wonder II It ha
ever occurred to Mr.. Walsh and hi
fellow democrats that America does no
! allow any Japanese to seek these shore
, without a passport II a JRpanes
comes here unarmed with passport
; he In Jailed and eventually deported b
.. the American authorities
Freedom for Working People.
Q Tho allied labor conference held a
Leeds IN July. 1915, adopted a pre-
3 gramms guaranteeing TO the workin
n people of all countries freedom
q work In any country where employment
4 Is available under equal condition
o with Its citizens"
r Japanese labor will be the first I
s welcome this proposition. But tn
Q American and European labor leader
who were responsible for It perhar
: never thought of the Japanese. II
= elevation OF wage scale and the stanC
O ards of living among lAborers in sue
l., congestAd country as Japan will I
d greatly facilitated by the movement
Q It's people into countries where ecoI
= omio opportunities arc great an
Q numerous with consequent nigh wage
o But this usual process OF improvement
10 Is denied tho japanese.
II was perhaps consideration OF suc
circumstances which impelled Il
Japanese to present the Ill fated ra,
equality proposal to the Peace Coz
10 gress. II they insisted upon its ado
10 ton by the League OF Nations no OF