Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-29
POKER DIPLOMACY RESUMED
BY TOXIC AND WASHINGTON
But the War Clouds Being Manufac.
tured by Japanese Expansion.
ists Carry No Rain

that aims to bC a new power behind the
throne and therefore very far indeed from
tho masses Of tho people. arc few strong.
NilCd mon who have suddenly brought to
tn" game of International diplomacy the
technique of sky limit poker. They know
how to appear serene and resolute when
they arc most uneasy. how to force the play.
ing to the edge of calamity while keeping
open way back to safety. how mcrcicsSly
10 crowd an opponent who shows the first
fickering sign of weakness or panic
Opposite them now is a solitary player.
and he is no less Il person that your own
Uncle Samuel That is why you hear
whispered rumors Of increasing friction and
possible war between the United States and
Japan.
Your patient and distinguished relative
haupcns to have sat in on some hard games
before this and he Is not an easy person to
stampede. On this occasion he isn't play
ing for his own money. lie seldom does
The pot is StuppndOuS because all the other
players have been temporarily crowded out
IF your Uncle WpakcnS tho loss will fall
heavily on people who should not be asked
to bCnr it and who cannot well afford to
bear il.
We got into the game by accident. The
business began when a contingent Of Ameri-
can soldiers was incorporated in the allied
expedition to Siberia. In other words. your
Uncle tried in a very serious emergency to
obigC his friends and it is cheering to re-
member now that he never backed out OF
big game in his life.
The japanese are desperately in need of
room. They wish to expand the empire and
to provide now opportunities for tho people.
the business men and the bankers. Their
country is ovcrpopuatcd. Naturally they
have looked for years toward China and
Siberia
Leaders of the aggressive faction in the
govornmcnt-and il is not by any means the
most powerful faCtiOn-hold that Japan,
because Of it's superior commercial instinct.
should BE- guide and mentor to modern China.
Shantung was seized during the war. Troops
of other allied countries went into Siberia
merely to maintain order. The japanese
were followed by a second army made up OF
banking and business experts and civilian
organizations who between them seemed
prepared to settle down for good There"
of course the honor Of the United States is
now involved.
We did not set out in tho Siberian advcn'
turc to aid governments eager for their
, nciGhbors' territories. But the japanese
desire 10 sit tight in Siberia: they desire.
tung has been almost forgotten in the United
States since the days Of thr League Of Ma
tions debate in the senate. But it is still
a source Of increasing trouble for large
part Of tho world. The japanese say they
took only what Germany had and that
'within a reasonable time they will va
cato Shantung They promise not very
definitely to respect the territorial rights Of
Russia.
Governmental opinion and policy in this
country have been opposed to tho present
form Of japanese expansion in china and
Sibcria. Now suddenly highly organized
efforts to make the California land question
an issue Of the first dimensions between the
two countries have become apparent in
japan II California presents. or can be-
made to present. a complication from which
the japanese may retire with a gesture Of
graceful abncgaton and sacrifice, might not
tho United States fool moved to retire from
the discussion in Siberia and China:
Such a bargain would hardly b. rrcditablo
IN this country and it would certainly br
unwsc. In ShantunE are the most mpor-
tant nerve rrnrcrS Of tho Chimes" railway
system A. well as vast quantities Of iron
and other metal. There. too, are the seats
If Ehlnc.c culture and tho roots of all the
traditions which tho Chinese hold sacred
II a ncighboring people could take rc.
zion lnclding Mount Vernon and indie
ncndcnCc Hall and part Of the Massachusetts
! coast. as we'll a. III" greater deposits Of iron
orc in this country We might feel about as
, '0c intelligent Chinese feel about the occu.
on,ion Of Shantung. II japan, controlling
. 'ac resources Of large part Of Siberia and
srgc part NJ China, were to become ag-
grc-.iyrl, militariStir all existing world
.E.l1. .
established in tho Pacific might and prob.
atl} would be- upset.
\ League Of Nations property organized
aud property funrtioniHg Woud have auto.
I ,ratIral,y eliminated the issues that are now
cgIsing some friction between Washington
and Toxic. As III" matter stands the opn.
: ion IF America official and otherwise il the
most Important obstacle in tho way Of the
small group Of powerful opportunists who
, wish ~ establish japanese interests prrma-
n,ut'y in China and Siberia. IN fairness to
! tho .JapancnR it must always be remembered
/ that they are doing nothing that was not
done often in the past by western govern q.
mcuts. They are following a trail bazcd for
/ rhcm BY the mpcrialistir nations. among
which Germany became the eliminating
/ type
Another thing j. to bc remembered too.
! The masses Of the japanese people and the
majority Of japanese business mon do not
want either war or unfricndly relations with
the United States, and the men who have
instituted the elaborate anti. American
propaganda in Japan know better than any
one else that they cannot push the game
to finish. They have not the money and
they have not the credit necessary, for a
war. 1t is seriously to be doubted whether
in any case they could inhamc public
opinion in their country as to make even
a threat of war possible.
Plainly. however, everything that can be