The Washington herald., 1921-11-07
Leave Pretense At Door.

Washington conference without being
loaded by armament of atruism 1t will
find the going much easier, if makes pretenses
and accepts 1t will be greeted by Greeks
bearing gifts and when pretense meets pretense, all
sincerity goes out the window, and with it is apt to
Ay reasonable hope of reaching genuinely honest
conclusion.
American diplomacy has been dubbed shirt
sleeve" largely because it did not speak the Ian
guage Of subterfuge, nor wear the cloak Of decep-
tive excuse This country owes China nothing
The Chinese trader and dealer, the merchant and
business man is honest beyond the average of any
other people. On the other hand her lesser Off
-eals do not have this reputation for integrity and
patriotism, and there has never been a political
,housecleauing better than a swap.
Each province has its army. There are
also the armies of the north and south. China has
more men under arms, according to report, than
any other country in the world. Yet she seems
to be the only one whose disarmament is not con-
templated by the conference, the chief items Of
whose agenda the preservation of her terri
torial integrity and integrity of administration She
has at least six cities administered and controlled
by other governments. Much of her financial ma
chiucry, her expenditures and income, under
fsreis~ Scetrol.
Foreign capital mines, railroads and most
OF her developed resources. 1t seeks others. Amer
z can capital demands equal opportunity with the
capital of other countries in this rich territory,
and equal opportunity for trade in this great market
OF a people whose public debts are never paid
save by other loans and whose interests are fire.
quently met in the way.
- China needs two things which may result from
this conference if pretense but sincerity, goes
out OF the window or is denied at the door,
and if the Greeks are asked to unload their gifts
outside First of all she may be made to disarm
as a preliminary to any form of relief guardian
ship She may be made to realize that after all is
said and done, she must be responsible for herself
and not expect to be wet-nursed perpetually. That
honesty in public affairs is quite essential as in
private dealings and that beheading is quite good
remedy in the as in the other.
. If Japan is met with like blunt frankness and
sincerity she will realize and admit that she does
not need an army, nor police rights, any ex-
elusive or political advantage backed by force to
give her a square deal with all the other powers in
Asia As fact Japan has not armed to protect
herself Her great army and navy are not for
self-defense She is armed solely to prevent inter
sference with her looting Asia. She is exactly like
"a highwayman who carries gun. 1t has worked
so far and moreover Japan without doubt, sincerely
believed herself justified in this by the abundant
preeedent of other nations Maybe she was. At
least she has very plausible argument, not lack
ing in evidence.
But it is not impossible, indeed it should not
be hard for the representatives of the nations dis
carding bunk to reach agreement on what consti-
tutes territorial integrity and integrity of admins
tration as applied to China and Siberia. 1t is not
the same as if applied to Italy or France, Great
Britain, British dominion. the United States.
1t should not be hard then to agree that China
might if she would, go "revoluting til the COWS
come home" but that until she quit she could ex-
pect and would get no help from any other country
but that she must pay its debts as they come due
and interest even if collection had to be seizure at
her ports.
Altruism is fine salve. 1t is an essential heal
ing power. The practical must be tempered by the
ideal and selfshness curbed by human obligation
China must not be sacrificed; neither must she be
-roddled as an excuse for robbery. She must be
helped to help herself, forced to do this
and to appreciate responsibility. This way lies
profit and good to her, and the greater ultimate
ps.o6t to others, who also collect reasonable ex-
pense money along the way without an unnecessary
display of sanctimony. -~1.r