The Washington herald., 1921-12-29
Paradoxiean Pleading.

SEEMINGLY exact diagnosis OF what Chm
~ asks of America at the conference in Wash
ington is predicated by the Chicago Tribune, ed
torially upon recent writings of Philip knsley, cor
respondent OF The Washington Herald and tn
Chicago paper.
The Trbunes finding is thus succinctly ex
pressed:
"We are asked to sacrifice our own interests i
friendly relations with Japan in order to protect
empire OF 100000 from consequences of its re
fusal to organize its powers of self-defense."
The editorial declares:
Philip Kinsley says Japan has been given
to understand that since we have always recog-
nized China's sovereignty and political integ-
rity, as we'll that of Japan, we must regard
any treaties entered into between them as sane
toned by international law. 1t follows there.
fore that it is not proper for US to intervene and
the onus of adjustment must remain upon the
shoulders of the contractants.
This logical position is not incompatible
with insistence by us that the two powers
shall not combine to exclude unfairly from
trade or other opportunities enjoyed among
friendly nations. That is not question OF
law or legal right but of policy, and in this do
main government, we trust will make such
arrangements as are possible in the circum-
stances for our benefit. A treaty between
China and Japan excluding us from partcipa-
ton in normal relations with either would be-
legal. since both parties are sovereign states
But that would not foreclose us from protesting
against its unfairness using diplomatic or
other pressure to induce modification and farr
treatment.
But the principle cited by Mr.. Kinsley has
bearing upon the propaganda which seeks to
place America behind Chinese demands regard
less of our own interests or our relations 10
Japan This propaganda pictures China as an
innocent victim OF Japanese aggression and calls
upon America to defend the Chinese on moral
grounds.
What this comes to is simply this: We
asked to sacrifice interests in friendly
relations with Japan in order to protect an
empire of 100000 from consequences OF IT'S
refusal to organize its powers OF self-dc-
fense We tax ourselves to maintain certain
navy and army; we maintain national UNITY
and national institutions productive OF national
power; we have developed modern science, eou-
cation, economic strength and patriotic senti-
ment By these, which involve sacrihce, sell,
control and self-drection, we have created
power The Chinese have chosen contrary
policy and now their advocates ask that we
Shall further sacrifice ourselves for people
which has refused to make the effort and sac
rihce by which it is proposed they are 10
benefit.
There is neither logic NOT justice in such
demand, but there is a Anal irony which caps It,
The class which is now calling upon us 10 use
our power for the projection OF China IS the
class which is constantly at work to make us
as helpless, in arms at least as China IS 1t is
the pacihsts and advocates OF setting an ex-
ample to the world by immediate and COM
plete disarmament that demanding that we
Confront militant Japan for the defense OF the
self-imposed- helplessness OF CHINA. opposing
every measure for the development OF our
power they now call upon us to use our power
for the defense Of the poweress.
If the Chinese will make the sacrihces ana
efforts we and other peoples make for sef-de-
tense and self-assertion, they need not call upon
us or any other people for protection from
nation OF one-e eighth their numbers and OF tar
less than one-eighth their resources
America has an interest in the peace, IN
tegrity and progress of China and will exert
proper influence in their behalf. But there is
no moral call upon to bolster up al our
own expense nation three times as large as
we are, which refuses'to bolster up itself,
dental Office for dogs has been .estab-
lished in New York. good opening for
desperate dentists.