New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Japan's Bad instructors

amazed irritation over the Presidents
inconsistency, nor even condemnation OF
Japan's failure to keep pledges should
obscure broader questions relating to the
Far East and Japo- American relations.
Except for few followers of Hearst
the American people want peace with our
Pacific neighbor and realize there is the
stun of war in course, whatever we
think of it, considered unfair by Japan.
We must be sure we are right, and prob
ably there is no better test of Brightness
than in doing as we would be done BY
of conceding to Japan a freedom Of
action that we claim Cor ourselves and
tolerate in others. Applying this test, will
intelligent Americans declare that we
have better reason for complaint of
Japan than she has of complaint of us?
We assert a right to set up Monroe
Doctrine for America, but question
Japan's right to have Monroe Doctrine
for the Far East; we have drawn toward
Japan territorially more than she has
toward us; there is more popular evil
dence that we are arming against Japan
than that she is arming against us; we
exclude her people, while she is glad to
admit ours, and, finally, isn't it rather
ridiculous for world quiescent as many
nations encroached on China to become
excited when Japan contracts the grab
bling disease? If there is Kiao-chau
there also is Tonquin, Hong Kong,
a Shanghai, Macao, and there were a
Port Arthur and a Dalny and a German
Kiao-chau.
Japan, through the centuries. was
hermit-an American squadron pried
open her ports. Forced to participate in
the worlds general life and play the
game as others played it, is it strange
she initiated Western vices while initial
ing Western virtues?
If Japan makes herself understood she
now is willing to do as others do. Her
policy is derived, not original; reflex,
exotic rather than Indigenous Is there
to be an "open door, for all? All right,
she replies-let's all evacuate But if
others are to expand she does not see
why 100000 Nipponese should keep
behind her sea fence-the worlds most
congested population. Let all the gun
boats, she argues, leave Chinese waters
or let hers be allowed to stay.
With respect to Shantung, considering
only China and Japan, Japan has a weak
ease, but taking into thought other
things, especially the glass house which
encases the Western world, stone-t throw
ing does not seem altogether safe.
The President is said to have prac-
tically bought Japan's adhesion to the
covenant by abandoning the Chinese.
Possibly he did trade little, but other
influences probably swayed his Judgment
1t was not easy to deny to Japan the
ancient, if not altogether honorable,
practice of grabbing when grabbing is
good. Imagine yourself trying to con-
vince acute-minded japanese gentlemen
that a Kiao-chau occupation is very
wicked while Hong Kong occupation is
sacred, or that it is wrong to run up the
Japanese flag over the Carolines but
permissible to hout our colors in the air
of Guam or Samoa.
The moral opinion of the modern
world will continue to press for the
restoration of Shantung to China, and
we think it should, but let US not conn
tenance the discussion Of the contro.
versy IN ways calculated to increase I'M
necessarily mutual suspicion.