New-York tribune., 1919-07-17
Shantung

/. Japan's declaration in her ultima
tum that she proposed merely to expel
Germany from her neighborhood and
that occupied territory would be restored
to China.
2. Repeated assurances to the United
States, whose interests in "open door"
principles were recognized by Japan,
that the restoration pledge would be re-
spected without evasion. This was Of
ficially and severally declared by the
Japanese Premier, Foreign Secretary
and Ambassador to the United States
How explicit Japan was is shown " the
following cable dispatch to the American
people, which was sent to The Inde-
pendent on August 27, 1914, by Premier
Okuma
"As Premier of Japan have stated
and now again state to the people of
America and of the world that Japan has
no ulterior motive, desire to secure
more territory, no thought of depriving
China or other peoples of anything they
possess"
8. Insistence by Japan at the peace
conference that alleged German titles in
Kiao-chau and Shantung should be un-
conditionally conveyed to her, culminat-
ing in Article 1856 of the treaty, which
says:
Germany renounces, in favor of
Japan, all her rights, titles and privileges
particularly those concerning terri
tory of Kiao-chau, railways, mines and
submarine cables-which she acquired in
;rtr &c bo NoN how
with China on March 6, 1898, and of all
other arrangements relative to the
province OF Shantung'
That the pledge disregard represents
no hasty act appears from the clause,
contained in the agreement of 1915,
which Japan forced China to sign, which
attests that Japan sought not to be a
temporary trustee fer China, but Ger
manys successor, to wit:
"The Chinese government agrees that
when the Japanese government hereafter
approaches the German government for
the transfer Of all right, and whatever
privileges of whatsoever nature, enjoyed
by Germany in the province of Shan
tung, whether secured by treaty or in
any other manner China will give her
full assent thereto"
What Japan pledged herself to do is
not what she has done--at least, not up
to date. Her professions and her prac-
tices cannot be reconciled, and it is no
use to try to reconcile them.
But fairness demands consideration of
the Japanese defence, or, rather, her
series of defences, for her excuses are
various. First, she intimates that she
still intends to make restoration to
China, as originally promised, and says
that to ask for new pledge is a rehec-
tion on. her honor; second, that she is
holding, not German territory, but mere
ly German property (railways, mines,
franchises, concessions and the hke),
as we hold German merchant ships;
third, that this German property will
but partially pay Japan's war expense,
the implication being that when China
or some one else lifts the mortgage the
property will be released
These defences, set out for what thew
are worth, alas, do not seem worth much.
The German titles are obviously polti-
cal as we'll as economic. The two ele
ments can scarcely be separated. If
Japan holds the German privileges she
viii dominate Shantung as Germany
did. To ask China to pay japanese war
expenses (what the second defence
amounts toy would be as if this coun-
try were to file on Belleau Wood and
the Argonne Forest until France lioui-
dated our war expenditures
Japan places her friends in this
country in trying position She seems
to justify her critics. and thus helps on
the propaganda TO manufacture anti
japanese prejudices. Her course does
not harmonic with the repute japan
has gained for astuteness.
Moreover, Japan makes more difficult
the work Of those who have fabored. as
main peace objective, to bring West
and East together in that mutual conf
dence that is the only safe basis of
future peace. The hour il not pleasant
one for those who have sought to
cement union Of five great nations
whose major interests are identical--to
create a concert of preponderating power
devoted TO justice, and TO associate with
it az rapidly as possible all we'll dis
posed nations.
Japan can save the situation, and only
Japan; this, by rcverting to her 1914
principles and declaring that, without
delay, she will return to China what he
longs 70 the Chinese. No sympathy, lis