Evening star., 1920-03-04
SAYS Japan HOLDS
| 0SHANTUNG PLAN
Ambassador Shidehara Sees
No Possibility Of Difficulties
with United States.
By the Associated Press.

| by tne hSSocMteQ tfe88.
| NEW YORK. March 4. tby the
ASSOCIATED Press).-Japans course
in regard to the shantung ques-
ton will be pursued ''unswerv-
ingly," no matter what action China
takes X. Shidehara, the new Japanese
ambassador to the United States, de-
clared at a dinner given by the Japan
Society in his honor here last night.
1t was his first appearance before a
| large audience in this country since
his arrival to assume his ambassado-
| rial duties
! Asserting that Shantung cannot be
q source Of difficulties between the
United States and Japan. Mr.. Shide-
statesmen to decide which Of two al
Tentative courses would better serve
the true interests OF their country
and the world"
1.-TWO Courses for China"
Two alternative courses are now
open for China to take" the ambas-
! sador said; "either to effect an early
settlement Of the Shantung question
or to leave the question unadjusted
and pending for an indefinite length
Of time.
I'm any case Japan knows her re-
sponsibilities to China and to civiliza-
tion. She will go forward unswerv-
ingly. along the pathway which she
believ leads to international peace
and stability. What difficulties then.
could there possibly arise between the
United States and japan with respect
to Chinese problems?
ut should be borne in mind that
Japan has in China a special position
which is not shared by the United
powers. Her future destiny is closely
interviewer with that Of China and
her own national safety and vital
interests are in many cases directly
involved in Chinese problems which
America and Europe can afford to ap-
proach from purely sentimental or
economic points of view.
Il feel sure, however, that this spe-
DIAL position of Japan Is fully realized
by her American and European friends
and that she will not be called upon
to renounce her undoubted right of
self protection and preservation"
For "Open Door" Policy.
Ambassador Shidehara declared that
no nation could be more deeply inter-
ested than Japan in the preservation
! of the principles of the territorial in
tegrity of China and the "open door"
| for foreign trade there.
| We have the common sense and
| clear vision to perceive the sheer
madness of any attempt at aggression
| or economic monopolization in China"
he said. I'VE only expect that we
| shall not be denied the chance of our
natural expansion in the field of com
| merce and industry. Every nation is
expanding and is seeking to expand
commercially and industrially. and
Japan claims what other nations
equally claim.
I'VE are not afraid of foreign COM
petition in the Chinese market if only
we are assured of fair and equal op-
portunity. At the same time we glad
ly welcome the cooperation of va
rious nations in such economic activ-
tiles. in the interest of all parties
| alike, including China herself"
Discusses immigration Question.
| There Is nothing at present to war
grafton question might prove a source
of complications between the United
ates and Japan, Mr.. Shidehara said,
adding that ''it is chiefly with regard
to the treatment of Japanese immi-
grants lawfully admitted to this coun-
try that questions have occasionally
been presented and are likely to
arise.
ct am, however. confident that
these questions will be satisfactorily
name principles and in a manner
worthy of the best traditions of our
mutual relationship" he declared.
! In the process Of extensive world
reconstruction "1et us determine that
the chief scene" of a grand harmony
of peace and fulflllment'' shall be la id
on the islands and shores of the Pa
cihc ocean. Mr.. Shidehara said, add
ing:
1T rests with us that It shall be
so. The choice is before us-not be-
! tween better and 'worse'-but be-
tween the heights Of noble achieve
ment and the bitter depths of hope
less. entangled misery. am sure
that we shall make the right choice,
that America and Japan will each re-
alize the desire Of the other to work
in cooperative friendliness for the
progress and the welfare Of mankind.
Would Have Faith In Others.
Let US have a real, sober convic-
| tion that the other nations OF the
world are in the bulk good, likable
people. whose affairs are managed by
men who are sincerely striving to do
their best. not only for their particu-
lar countries, but for the common
good of humanity. Let us have a firm
| confidence in each other-a rational
and justified belief that we have to
do neither with pirates nor burglars
nor swindling SPECTATORS. but with
people whom we can trust and believe
| in. as, fellow workers in the great
cause of making this globe happier
and a lovelier place for the existence
of mankind"