Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-16
The Shantung Reservation
and After
From the Christian Science Monitor.

The full effectiveness of the so-called Shan
| tung reservation to the peace treaty, recently
adopted by. the United States senate, depends
upon the ultimate ratification of the treaty by
the United States. Nevertheless, even a failure
to ratify would be very far from robbing the
senate's action of all its value. Every month
that passes finds China looking more con-
hdently to America for help in the great work
of development lying before her. In spite Of
everything that Japan can do to force herself
upon the Chinese as banker, commercial adviser.
and educational expert, the Chinese people will
have none of such schemes. Even at immedi-
ate loss to themselves they seek such aid from
America and, as far as they possibly can, boy
colt Japan.
This. of course, is the explanation why the
Japanese propagandiSts made such tremendous
exertionS to secure the rejection of the Shan
tung reservation. On the surface, it ought to
have made little difference to Toxic whether
the reservation was adopted or not. The treaty
is in full force, and Japan is already officially
confirmed in her rights" But Toxic views
with thinly disguised alarm the steady alienation
OF China from the Japanese ambit. The rejec-
tlon OF the reservation, the failure on the part
OF the United States to stand by China, would,
it was evidently hoped in Toxic, have had the
effect of creating an anti-American feeling
throughout the country, and SO of putting an
end to the plans for financial aid and industrial
reorganization which, for some time past, have
been SO increasingly discussed between China
and the United States. 1T is not too much to
say declared a we'll known authority on far
eastern matters. Mr.. Charles Hodges, to rep
resentatve OF this paper, recently, "that the
demonstration of Americas disnteres stedness
given through the action of the United States
senate, not only saved our prestige in China, but
gave the Chinese people the only encourage
ment that any great power has afforded in the
trying year since the peace conference"
hen again, the whoe-hearted nature of the
senates decision, reserving full liberty of action
to the United States in any future controversy
which may arise on the matter, has undoubtedly
strengthened China in her determination not
to yield one jot in the position she has taken
up. China, a we'll known authority has de-
clared, has never recognized that the status of
Japan in Shantung was legal and therefore the
restitution is meaningless and no negotiation is
necessary" In other words, China is quite de-
termined not to be inveigled into any discus
sion of the matter by specious appeals to good
will and observations Of lofty purpose. China
early days of 1915, there came from Toxic a
similar invitation to confer. At that time,
conference was urged for the purpose of main
tanning the general peace in eastern Asia and
further Strengthening the friendly relations be-
tween the two countries. 1t ended in the 81
demands, and acquiescence, on the
part of China, exacted under threat of war;
China. therefore, has no intention whatever Of
entering second time into the parlor of the
Japanese spider.
"The whole thing about the Shantung set
diplomacy written into the peace treaty of
Paris by diplomatic blackmail, and now is being
fastened upon China by dark and devious meth
DDS of statecraft." So did Mr.. Hodges sum
up the situation, the other day. 1t is about as
just summary as could be made.