South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-12

tive to world opinion. No people
are more self-conscious than they.
I remember a Japanese met once
I in crossing the Atlantic. he was
reading day after day a large book
printed in japanese. He told me
~ hat II was: A collection OF opin-
+ ions expressed by leading newspa-
pers and public men OF the world
regarding the japanese nation. II
interested him profoundly They
are proud, sensitive, insular peo-
ple. and their representatives who
were at Paris often impressed me
with q kind OF inarticulate desire
10 make themselves better under
stood. without knowing quite how to
do II. In a curious way their in
hibitiOns and shynesses resemble
those OF another insular people-the
British. They are very different
from the Chinese; who are a con-
tinentai people. They do not learn
foreign languages as easily or per
fectly. The Chinese at Paris were
practically all American or British
educated and spoke English huently
They were much more open. out
right, and frank than the japanese,
and they were 10 a man. real gentle
men. We had one OF them Mr.. Wei,
who blew into our office as breezily
every day or so as any American
and was on familiar terms with ev-
eryone. But the Chinese as a whole
lacked experience; for the scarcity
OF men in China educated in the
west has made it necessary TO pick
young college graduates for highly
responsible diplomat positions; and
they are not yet the equals in ex-
perience 10 the trained and very able
japanese.
The Japanese felt strongly re-
garding the defeat in their effort TO
obtain the racial recognition clause
in the covenant, and at once, in
some of their extreme newspapers.
there began a sharp attack on Pres't
Wilson as the cause Of their dis
comfture. The Osaki Mainichi Deu-
pos. for example, referred TO the
presidents dangerous justice" and
charged him with having a female
demon term wildly denuncia-
tory to the oriental mind. What
ever happened at the conference.
the president had TO take the lions
share Of the blame for it.
Determined to Win Second.
Having lost out in their first great
contention the japanese came to the
settlement of their second demand
with a feeling of irritation but with
added determination The japanese
delegates were the least expressive
Of any at the conference; they said
the least; but they were the firmest
OF any in hewing to the line of their
interests and their agreements. It
must not be forgotten also. in all
fairness, that the Japanese delegates,
not less than the British, French
and American. had their own do
nestle political problems. and OPP
position, and that there was a pow
erful demand in Japan that while
all the other nations were securing
some return for their losses and
sacrifices in the war, Japan should
also get some return.
At the same time Japan was in "A
stronger position than any other Of
the allies except the United States
She had been little hurt, and much
strengthened by the war. She was
far distant from danger, she did not
need the League of Nations as much
as the countries of Europe, and
more than anything else. she oc-
cupied a strong legal status, for her
claims were supported by treaties
both with China and the allies. and
she was, moreover, in a position, il
she were rendered desperate, TO take
by force what she considered TO be
her rights if the allies refused TO
accord them. 1 am not here arguing
the right or wrong of the Japanese
position; but trying TO state IL fairly.
so that it can be accurately meas
ured.
INT is described as a safer ex-