The Washington herald., 1921-11-02
By FRANK H. sIMoNDS.

AuVS Utsh thS oThtSh-
By FRANK H sIMoNDS
Already we are in the opening
stage OF the Washington confer
snce. The first Representatives of
foreign countries the advance
guard of the foreign journalists,
are arriving. And IT is possible to
draw sonRe preliminary picture Of
what is in the minds OF these whS
are the first comsrE
There is one impression which
deserves mention at once In the
very nature Of things the Wash
ingtun conference must, in a meas
ure. resolve itself into a real If
restrained. clash between American
principles and Japanese purposes
and performances Therefore it is
Of prime Importance to know In
what spirit Japan IS coming to the
conference.
japanese Not Defiant.
OF the character Of the Japan
ese case Washington is beginning
to have a fair Indication Beyond
all else IL is unmistakably plain
that the japanese are not coming
in a truculent Or defiant spirit In
deed one might go further and say
that not only is there a very real
recognition on the part Of the Jap
Enese that they are on the de-
fensive, but there is an equally
manifest readiness to explain, TO
Justify. even to compromise There
is an equally eager wish to estab-
Iish the notion that Japan is nei-
ther beIligerent in temper nor over
exigent in purpose.
This means something very con-
crete. II means that IL the Ameri-
can case is presented with skill
and with an absence of over-em-
rhasis, very great concessions can
be looked for from Japan. 1t does
not mean. however. that the jap
anese are ready or willing to yield
many things which must be con-
ceded II such abstract principles as
the open door and the integrity of
China are rigidly insisted upon.
Admit Mistakes in China.
The Japanese representatives al
ready present are eager to re-
move the impression that militarism
exists in Japan. There is even
willingness TO concede that mis-
Mistakes" is obviously a euphemism,
but the fact that Japan does not
enter an indignant and uncompro-
missing denial in all respects indi
Gates the degree TO which the Jap
anese have appreciated the position
in which they are placed.
This place was we'll indicated to
me by a distinguished French jour
nalist, who remarked that the French
were coming to this conference with
real pleasure. because it was the
first time since the armistice that
France had not found herself in the
prisoners box. assaiIed by all her
allies. We have resigned that place
to Japan" was the smiling comment
No French or British Aid.
Japan can rely upon no nation
thin. She has no confidence in her
British ally. She has no hope of
aid from her French ally. Up to a
certain point 1t is patent that the
United States will have the unhes-
itating support Of the European
powers. and Japan can only lose II
she seems along the way to be ami
mated by anything but a sincere
moderation.
Having talked with Japanese rep-
resentatives, having listened to their
public speeches and their private
comment. I am satisfied that Janan
in the conference is prepared to r,
long way in yielding and even
further in seeming to yield. The dif
ficulty, the sole difficulty. will be
found In endeavoring to ascertain the
limits Of the possible. in the wav
OF concessions.
Awakening May Come.
IN it be assumed that the present
temper OF the Japanese representa-
t,Nes VIII lead them to a surrender
q Wnat Japan has won in the Far
East by war. by patient effort and
unremitting sacrifice; n n he .s
sumed that they are prepared to oct
out Of all OF what the man stin caIIs
China from Siberia to BritIsb 80
French Indias-in a word ~ tho
doctrine Of the open door ana ~
principle OF the integrity ~ C-btne
are to be applied as the extra11s
champions Of prohibition wouId ill.,
70 see the dry laws enforced tbon
am satisfied rude awakening MN
come presently. VIII
But In their present temper and IN
their present predicament. the Ia
anese are obviously willing to con
cede much, to agree to a great deaf
ana even to do not a little. They are
the fact Is patent, gravely disturbed
az their present isolation, conscious Of
their weakness in the present CON
ference. They feel the necessity. NOT
merely to explain but to justify and In
certain instances to concede mistakes
with implication that the mistakes
VIII not Be repeated.
Not Another Paris.
Japan will fight at Washington. IL
she mas to- There are still weli-dehned
limits beyond which she will not go
even TO earn world approval But she |
VIII not repeat her Paris performance.
Where she withheld her hand TO the I
hhai hour and then. to use a. harsh
Mord, almost literally bIackmafled /
Mr. wilson into the Shantung conces-
SION japan wants friends and win
seek 10 hnd them and-within limits
to deserve them.
above al. the allegation that Japan
i