Evening star., 1921-11-16
JAPAN PROMISES
A NEW SENSATION
Envoy Indicates Country May
Renounce Claims in Siberia
and China.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

FRANKLY, this article has as its def
mite foundation glance Of one mans
eyes and a single sentence of six
words True, they were official eyes,
trained to impassivity; yet when they
were turned upon me, with sudden
alertness. I seemed to see great light.
With man who can speak for Japan,
had been discussing far eastern memo
ries and problems Just before we part
ed 1 bethought me to try bit of
Hughes diplomacy, and SO pumped
straight to the center of one of the
most delicate issues at present en-
crossing Washington Having in mind
the inevitable and rather staggering
relinquishments Of sJapan's pre-confer-
ence claims, I asked: How is It going
to be possible for Japan to accept the
fundamental decisions, which she knows
she will ultimately accept, without loss
Of pretige?'
Startling aAbout Face
Instantly my friend replied: "she Will
add to her prestige" More meaningful
than the words so decisively spoken was
the swift swinging Of his eyes toward
me, as If challenging my comprehen-
sion Of the portentousness of the decla-
ration. For the man who spoke is no
mere hanger-on Of the japanese delega-
ton. a picker-up of trifies outside Of
the doors OF council rooms. He was
perfectly aware that what he said
implied that Japan contemplates a
startling about face" and great sur
render such as even her most ardent
defenders scarcely expect of her.
searching glance. were a window into
the fairest prospect yet revealed
since President Harding issued his
fateful invitation to this meeting.
Even the delightsome vista opened
up by Secretary Hughes was not half
the hint have had. then Japan is
going to startle the conference and
the world by a complete remuneration
Of the aims in China, and Siberia
which have really created the Pa
cif1c problems.
Realizes Long Chances.
Like the European powers who got
the prizes for which they grabbed at
Paris and have since had to let them
60, Japan fully understands that in
seizing parts Of China and Russia she
rs taking long chances There is
abundant evidence that the resentfuI
residents of the regions concerned
would protest, and protest more ef-
fectively than the Koreans have pro-
tested-and nobody knows SO web as
Japan how costly Korean ill will has
been. Over the rich prizes of eastern
Siberia, Manchuria and Shantung
have hung the ominous clouds of IN
evitable future war with Russia and
China, the two largest nations on
earth, once these have found them
selves. All possible profit from SOW
ereignty over an unwilling and re-
vengeful people is bound to be swaI-
lowed up in the cost of future wars.
not to mention the possible losses
Every time informed men discuss
the delicate situation in the far east
they find themselves facing the spec
tacle Of Japan upon two horns Of a
dilemma-if there is to be peace in
the world she Simply cannot keep
Of Asia, and for her to renounce her
claims to Shantung, to Siberia, to
Manchuria, and to the right to inter-
meddle with Chinese domestic affairs,
would seem like such complete
backdown as hardly may be expected
Of an oriental nation. The problem
remains after every debate, as to how
Japan is to find modus vfviendi.
= Adventures Bring Protest,
1t has not occurred to commentators
to suggest that Japan herself might
propose this radical solution of the
perilous problems of the Pacific.
True. she has all along professed that
she cherishes no imperialistic policy.
In Japan there exists strong and
growing party which protests that
Japah's chauvinistic adventures on
the mainland hold no promise of real
advantage, but only serve to win the
ill will of the world. Times without
number it has been printed in Japa-
nese publications that complete can
collation. of all of Japan's political
and military claims in China and ST.
IBERIA would be the most statesman
like step for the nation to take. But
it has seemed scarcely credible that
the Japanese government, as at pres
ent dominated, would be willing to
entertain such an idealistic program.
May Renounce Plan.
Perhaps, though, Japan has been,
as so often she has declared, misun-
derstood by the world. Let us sup
pose that, with even more than the
audacity Of the American government
in making the Hughes proposals. she
should by a magnificent gesture sin