The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-13
Our New Treaty With Japan.


Our New Treaty With Japan.
In his diplomacy with Japan our
Ambassador, ROLAND USHER MORRIS,
has followed the right road. 1t is but
simple record that he began his work
in Japan by acquainting himself with
the history and evolution of the ma
tlon. None since TOWNSEND HARRIS
excelled him in this quest.
Nor can we in fairness say less Of
Japan's accomplished Ambassador,
Mr.. SHIDEHABA. He is a trained
scholar and diplomatlst, and he knows
the American mind and story.
For months these competent repre-
sentatives of an imperial and Orlen-
tai Government and of a republic
which refuses to follow slavishly Eu-
ropean precedents have been closeted
together in Washington with the view
of solving certain pressing problems.
These arise directly out Of the meet
ing, face to face and chiefly on the
American mainland and islands, of
the Asiatic Oriental and the modern
Occidental.
We do not pretend to be in the
confidence either Of the State De
partment in Washington or Of the
Guai Mu sho in Toxic, but this we
believe:
1. Ii Is doubtful whether the recent
vote at the polls in California will
ultimately work out any better for
either country than the gentlemens
agreement.
.. The Pacific Ocean and paramount
influence in Asia belong to no one
nation, but TO humanity.
g. The withdrawal in 1912 OF the
Legation Of the United States from
Corea after we had made In 1882 a
solemn compact with the Corean Gov
erment was one Of the most serious
mistakes In American diplomacy. 1t
abandoned American interests there
In capital, education and missionary
activities to their fate. To haul down
the American flag in Corea to please
the Japanese was to give them the
point d'appul by which Corean civil
cation was to be destroyed and the
country to be annexed to the Empire
Of Japan. The logical result Is seen
i'm the recent atrocities which have
startled the world. The sequel was
a lamentable lowering of the prestige
In Asia and notably in the Far East
Of American influence and the pecul-
lar attitude of the japanese at Yer
sailles. before which President Will
son backed down.
Still another result of our abandon
ment Of Corea was to swell the pride
of the mllltarists OF Japan, even TO
the creation of japanese Monroe
Doctrine. So far as we can interpret
this rather sinister slogan of the Jap
anese jlngoes il reveals itself as a
much distorted notion Of what the
Monroe Doctrine Is or was.
Our Monroe Doctrine meant the
death Of autocracy and n blow Mt
thrones and hereditary rulers, as far.
&C least, as these might be attempted
on the American continent. 1t meant
the self-determination OF nations.
AS long as an autocracy, based on
mythology as centred in Shlnto and
the throne, and at the head even ST
constitutional monarchy. Is the basis
Of japanese Monroe Doctrine we
see only a carlcature Of the original
And this not only Americans but also,
unless we mistake, other peoples will
resist. Imperialistic Japan cannot
successfully stand IN the way and
block the path Of the worlds progress
I sive movements.
Let US not be misunderstood. With
out possessing any secret text or In
side information we may discern the
core Of both the negotiations and the
meaning OF the problem in hand, espe-
cially as Viewed in Toxic. In our
opinion Americans and japanese in
what on American SOIL mainland or
islands. concerns either or both can
easily find a modus vlvendi. But we
made a national mistake i'm acknowl-
edging the predominant claims Of
japan in Asia and ia hauling down
our Dag IN Corea, treaty nation.
Surely our rulers did not forcsce the
Interpretation which japan would
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