Evening star., 1921-02-14
Editorial Digest
Eastern Goose and Western Gander

Eastern Goose and Western Gander
Secret diplomacy" is again under
fire in the press as result or the
controversy between Senator Johnson
and Secretary Colby over making
public the Norris-Shidehara agree
ment. AS is usually the case in dis
cussing the Japanese problem. di-
vision of editorial opinion is chiefly
geographic Insistence upon open
covenants openly arrived at is found
in western papers. while most OF the
eastern editors support Secretary
Colby in his refusal to announce the
result of official conversations
which he maintains have not yet
reached the stage of formal agree
ment.
Emphasizing the point that "the
submitted; it is still under considera-
ton" the Fort Wayne Journal
Gazette (democratic) ridicu!es the
suggestion that it is at this time the
concern of the Senate:
Shades of John Hay" it exclaims.
Since when did it become customary
for an ambassador to consult with
members Of the foreign relations COM
mittee of the Senate in the negotia-
ton of a treaty? His chief is the
Secretary of State; with him he con-
suits and from him secures his in
structions.'
Opposition to this view. however.
comes from at least one paper on the
Atlantic coast. as we'll as from the
Pacific. The Express and Advertiser
(republican) of Portland, Me. sees in
Senator JohnsonS request "a splen-
did opportunity for demonstration" Of
president Wilson's celebrated point
of open covenants openly arrived at
particularly since there is no need
for secrecy" and Senator Johnson is
right in his position that the west
should be informed at once as to
what has passed between the two
governments"
While the California senator may
be "a troublesome person by reason
there as the Wichita Eagle Gin
depcndenD rather satirically suggests.
the Detroit Free Press independently
finds good excuse" for his demand
that the people chiefly concerned in
these negotiations shall not be
ready being discussed at length in
Japan. filter through via Japanese
news channels"
Eventually. the Spokane Spokesman
Review independent republican,
points out. the State Department. II
agreement with, Japan" must bring
it into the open" Therefore ut
would seem that Mr.. Colby is going
about his undertaking in the wrong
manner An attitude of frankness
and non-concealment would seem
more effective. Certainly it would be
more consonant with the spirit OF
American government"
In the opinion Of the Columbus
(Ohio) Dispatch (independent. how
ever. Johnson Is merely stlrring up
unnecessary friction" which may re-
act iEjuriously by forcing the people
of California to yield .r1ore TO the
Judgment of tn, country as whole
than would have been the case had
they refrained from throwing mon
key wrenches into the machinery OF
conciliation."
1t is thS appearance of an attempt
on the part of California Ito dictate
national policies" which is most
strongly opposed by papers not in the
immediate battle-ground. To the
Times-Union independently
lit would seem that the rest of the
say about the matter; and the Nor.
folk Virginian-Pilot independent
democratic) feels that Senator John
son should realize that he himself
does not enjoy monopoly on
Americanism and that California is
The question. as the Buffalo Ex-
press independent republican, sees
1t, "is whether the ideas of group
of California politicians should direct
the policy of nation or whether IT
should be representative of the en-
tire country" That question can be
answered only in refusal to allow
California Ito impose her special OBJ
session on the United States"
However, this theory that the jap
s~I
sion" of California and the coast is
emphatically refuted by western writ
ers. Says the Sacramento Union (in-
dependent). far from being local is
sue ut is fundamentally matter for
national concern, and only the gross
ignorance of the eastern section Of
ization Of this fact" The Los An
geles Express independently deplores
the Morris Shidehara agreement.
which. it believes. "is far from
statesmanlike settlement of the issues
involved" and it insists upon nego-
tiations "'that involve no surrender
Japanese diplomatic triumph"
What the pending agreement pro.
poses, according to the Cleveland
Plain Dealer independent demo-
cratic) is general alien land owner
ship laws applicable to all aliens.
the United States should be more than
satisfied" the paper believes. since
''the United States is really yielding
nothing" and the Pacific coast secures
the protection it demands.
The San Francisco Chronicle tnde-
pendent) maintains that in any event
"our domestic laws are no legitimate
concern Of Japan" and that "the Cali
fornia law should not even be dis
cussed with Japan" And the Fresno
Republican independently insists that
whatever the terms Of the treaty may
prove to be, "the Japanese immigra-
ton question must be determined by
American statute and not by treaty"