New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-04
1okio w anted
10 Avoid Quiz
On China Pact
territory and Influence
Acquired by Methods
That Will Put Her ON
defensive at Farley


to participate in the disarma-
ment and Pacific conference.
BIZ Probably she never would have
.....nted to engage in discussion
5 pacific questions if the recent Brit
81 imperial conference hadn't d.
,;dea on the proposal to renew the
.,s,o.Jspanese alliance. Canada's op-
.,s;t;on to renewal and the desire of
4. South African Union, Australia
.,d New Zealand to modify the alliance
!. - to make it less Objectionable to
a. United States forced Japan's hand.
The British Lord Chancellor's happy
a;seoyery that proper notice had not
htsn given by either signatory of q
,nrnose to terminate the treaty al
inxea the imperial conference to post
anne sction. 1t also permitted Great
Rrtain to support without embarrass-
.sat the American project Of hasten
ing disarmament through considera-
lion of the situation in the Pacific,
which is now, and has been since 1919,
ne chief obstacle to navy disarmament.
Japsp couldn't expect to obtain a re-
naval Of the British alliance if she
,,fused to take part in the Washing
la discussions. She has come in, after
hesitations which still express them
s.Ives in the comment of Japanese
.ttesmen and newspapers. because she
rsslises that she can't afford to stay
cut,
Jspsn Knows She Will Be
On Defensive In Washington
Japan senses that she will be on the
defensive at Washington. As most Of
her leaders see it, she is somewhat in
he position of being hailed before an
International court. Marquis Okuma,
former Premier of the empire and
suthor of Japan's aggressive policy in
China in 1914 and 1915 and still one
Of the most influential of Japanese
statesmen. said bluntly the other day:
THE NEST probable fact is that, hav-
ing failed to put as much restriction on
the Japanese position and activity in
the Far East as she desired at the
Versailles conference, the United States
has sought different opportunity in
the form Of the Pacific conference. The
future center of the worlds markets
and wealth lies in China and Siberia.
IL II only too natural for America,
therefore, to want to restrict the &C
tivty Of the Japanese, who possess
intimate relations with the above quar-
ten and who occupy superior posi-
tons there.
The proposed conference, in this
end many other senses, is a conven-
hoh to which greater Importance at
aehes in the Japanese estimation than
70 the Paris conference. The Japa-
aess must be prepared to reject what:
ever proposals may be made at the
conference in disregard of the rights
and interests of the people Of the
Orient. If Japan's protests or claims
should be ignored she should quit the
conference"
What is the reason of Japan's in
hsnsigeant attitude and her uneasy
mspicions? All the other nations Dor
dsring on the Pacific, or with interests
In that region, want to see the situa-
ton there cleared up. They want to
remove causes of friction and distrust,
20 Is to enable the three leading naval
powers of the world-Great Britain,
the United States and Japan-to call q
halt on competition in naval ex-
panaion. These three powers were al
lies in the World War. The other nations
invited to the conference-France,
Italy and China-were also allied CO.
belligerents. The Washington confer
ence is gathering Of the principal AL
lied and associated powers which won
the war. 1t is necessary supplement to
the Paris conference, which failed to
Produce treaty to which all of them
muld subscribe, which failed to bring
about disarmament and which left un-
Kttled - and even aggravated - the
caneerous problems of the Pacific.
keiations of Nations With
china Cause of Friction
The root of all the trouble in the
far East is in the relations of the pow
"a having interests there with inert
ana exploited China. All these powers
sspan included - have committed
themselves to common principle
vat OF the preservation of China's po-
aAcal independence and territorial in
0grity and the maintenance Of the
open door'--that is, of equality of
~Onomic and commercial opportunity
. chinese territory. Why should Japan
's0ae balk at an effort to reaf1irm and
s'arlfy that doctrine, or. if it is to be
.s'opped or modified, to find some other
sssis OF accord in the Far East?
spans dealings with China account
: large part for the political isolation
: which the empire finds itself and
y Which her statesmen are so morbidly
..hscious. They are extremely sensi-
"ss 70 the reproach that Japan is
mug summoned to Washington to an
!, an Indictment. They know that
.''sie IS world wide belief that Toxic
,uoS advantage of the war to squeeze
vltna and 10 oh 4