The daily banner., 1919-04-03

Refuses to Accept "|nferioI
Place." Says Maxine.
WANTS A JUST LEAGUE
"Not Too Proud to Fight" Declares
Peace Envoy, Explaining Attitude
on Society of Nations

! or SCClSty Si iNatiolo
Paris. April 3.-No Asiatic nation
could be happy IN Il league of nations
in which sharp racial Discrimination
, is maintained
Baron Maxine, head of the japanese.
delegation to the peace conference so
declared in q statement on the pos
ton of Japan.
"We are not too proud TO fight" the
baron said, but we are too proud to
accept Il place Of admitted inferiority
in dealing with one or more associate
lations. We want nothing but simple
justice"
Japan is glad to join league Of
na ions 10 maintain peace and order,
the baron added.
Japan does not wish, he continued. to
.nrcc her labOrerS as Immigrants on
any associate countries and recognizes
that this question is one for each ma
tion TO deal with itself
Japan feels that it IS entitled to a
frank and open admission by the al
lies that the principle of equity and
justice is a fundamental tenet Of the
league of nations. the baron continued
Japan sees difficulties in the way OF
a permanent and successful operation
of the league, the baron asserted. un-
with mutual respect.
Baron Maxine, in his statement
said:
"You ask me for plain and frank
statement of the position of Japan
Well, am tempted TO ask you a qaes-
ton in reply.
''Do you think it possible for me to
say anything that will not be wilfnlly
distorted and misnterpreted by those
who have so long and so perSiStently
sought to clog the efforts of my cOln-
| try. 10 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
very sincere. abiding and affection
ate regard We owe to her our place
| In the world. that IS TO say. the civil
liZed world. Perhaps I should not nj
together agree to thar phrase because
you know and everyone should know
| that Japan has enioved civilization
| all her own for many ages. 1t vas II
civilization born of the highest sense
of honor. of the sense which the weS
| could not understand nor appreciate
because we had lived apart-aS a her
nit patton.
'When through the expedition OF
! Commodore Perry and the efforts Of
| Townsend and Harris. we joined. e
| may say so, the league of nations of
| the world and we took on new am
| bition, which was TO interpret the
civilization Of the western nations
| as better, although not all were more
honorable than our own.
was the first country to agree to make
! a treaty with us abolishing eNtra-ter-
ritoriality. You must remember we
DID not ask to join This firsf lenrre nf
nations. We were forced TO do So
Perry came to us with naval power
| and forces to compel lis to open Japan
| to intercourse with the western world
"We yielded and I am glad, as is al
| Japan. that we did yield because i
has been of great benefit TO our COM
| try
"And now We are asked second
| time 70 join a league of nations Bui
| how? AS equals? If so we are ready.
We want to consider with the great
| est care the interests of all our asso-
| ciate nations in such a league, because
| by no other policy can the league of
nations succeed.
mo Asiatic nation could be happy
| In league of nations in which sharp
social discrimination is maintained
While we feel very keenly on this
| point, our precise position must moi
| be misunderstood nor misrepresented.
"We are not too proud to fight, but
we are too proud to accept Il 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 order
and the reign of justice for all peo.
/ piles.