The Washington herald., 1920-05-06
ny JpsEPH TIMMoNs.

Japan's militarism may yet batter
itself to pieces against the passive
resistance of China.
The cocky little empire, able to
wallop big China about as II pleases
and slice of Manchuria and MonGo-
liza and carve out Shantung. finds
itself up against something it never
anticipated and does not know how
to surmount-the boycott of Jap
anese goods.
Her diplomatic and consular on
cials have been fuming and threat
ening. They have been demanding
of the Pekin government that it
compel the provincial authorities
to suppress the boycott, and inti-
mating dire consequences il they
do not.
The Peking officials have made
the desired demands OF civil and
military governors. In some prov
inces these officials are active in
trying to dissipate the student
movement; in others the students
have the tacit cooperation of the
authorities. Everywhere the hoy
colt is at least partially effective
still, and in many places growing
daily more effective.
AhIoatACC htSot hosC6NN.
If Japan insists Z on iamming
through a settlement of the Shan
tung problem by direct negotiation
with China, II is certain that such
action will vastly strengthen the
boycott. Already it is quite evident
that the boycott is no exotic plant
doomed to early withering. 1t is
deep-rooted and fed by patriotism.
1t will thrive as long as Japanese
injustice continues
Japanese trade Is suffering. The
Chinese market is absolutely essen
tial to japanese prosperity. The
Tokyo Chamber of Commerce has
called a meeting of the leading
chambers of commerce of Japan to
consider the causes of the boycott
and necessary steps to stop 1t. The
merchant class are no longer pooh-
pooling the boycott as a ridiculous
student movement.
An Illuminating sideIixht.
Tientsin offers one of the most IL
side1ights on the virility
and effectiveness of the boycott.
The Japanese are strongly en-
trenched there and most of the Chi
nese wholesale merchants are To-
Gated in the Japanese Concessions.
Normally 1t would he one of the
easiest places in China for suppress
sion of the boycott. - :
Some months ago the over-zeal-
Gus Japanese consul-general, Funat-
su, objected to til election of Pien
Yueh Ting as pfesident of the
Chamber of Commerce, because
Pien had been active in the first
phase of the boycott. He sent re-
monstrances tc the Peking officials
and the civil governor.
Publicity was given to this for
eign interference In a purely civil
and local matter. and the effect was
to solidify the merchants against
the Japanese. The Chamber of
Commerce became the rallying point
for joint student and merchant
campaigning against Japanese
goods. Late In December Japanese
goods were burned just across the
street from the Japanese concess-
ion boundary.
stop s4.ooo.eoe In orders.
Chinese merchants in a particu-
lar line belong to "a guild, and the
Chamber OF Commerce is made up
of those guilds. BY way of showing
that the merchants were. not being
coerced by the G. of c. nor It by
the students, the Tientsin Yarn.
Piece Goods and Silk Guild early
this month notified all their jan
anese connections that all relations
were severed and all orders placed
with them held up until the shan
tpng and Foochow matters should
be settled In accordance with JUS
tice.
Approximately 5000, 600 worth OF
orders for goods were practically
Written on by that single, ultima
tum.
The Japanese merchants remon-
|strated. they pleaded. they threat
|eped The Chinese would not bulge.
Consul -Genefal Funatsu protesfed