The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-06-19

of the conference as an integral part
of the peace treaty, but was rejected
by the committee of the league of
nations on February IS. 1919. And
when 1t was introduced for the Sec
ond time after amending the pre-
amble, II was again defeated. When
the general meeting OF the prelimi-
nary conference met on April IS,
where the draft of the covenant Of
the league OF nations finally decided
upon was reported, IL was more
than obvious that the Japanese pro-
posal of racial equality would be
passed by the session.
Race Equality Bill.
AT that time any one knew that
1t was of no avail to submit the
bill to the consideration of the
meeting. That is why our dele
gate, Viscount Maxine, after giving
account of the process by which
the bill was defeated. proclaimed to
reserve the bill for some proper
occasion in the future. The reser-
walton had nothing to do with the
Shantung question. while IL had
been developing into an important
question since the middle of April.
At last the final decision was
reached at the supreme council on
April 80 in favor of japanese claims.
We must not omit that the japanese
delegates had made it clear not to
insist on. the racial equality bill
before April 80.
Equality of races, to my think
ing, though it is a just and import
n n fAr 80
well as other Asiatic races, is no
more than a question which is con-
fined to our own protested principle.
while that of Shantung was an act
ual question of far-reaching effects
and consisted of the Fundamental
issue of the peace treaty. The Jap
anese delegates at the conference
at Versailles were firmly determined
to carry on their insistence on the
question. 1t is a mere misunder-
standing of Mr.. Lansing that he
says we used the racial equality
bill as a means to push on the
Shantung issue.
Plan to withdraw.
"As to our withdrawal from the
peace conference at the refusal of
ooi SialIuS SOHueCltu Will the
tung question. / must admit that
we really were determined to do so.
We attach much Importance to the
question of the Shantung status
and there was every reason that
the Japanese delegates would leave
the conference II our claims should
be defeated, which meant for us that
the treaties with the Chinese gov
eminent between France or Britain
was trodden. There would have
been no other step for Japan to
take than to withdraw from the
conference"
+ When the question reached a high
pitch, which was marked by active
propaganda of the Chinese dele
gates, who canvassed among the
delegates of other powers for the
passage of their claims, the Japa-
nese retained their silence and made
no counter propaganda. The only
effort made by them at that time
was to visit the delegations of other
powers to make clear the attitude
of Japan and to prevent their fur
ther Observation-Disclosures. And yet
Lansing, In his work, says that the
japanese would not make good
their threat to refuse to accept the
treaty. The observation merely dis
closes how ignorant he was of the
situation pending at that time.
" Treaty with China.
"Mr. Lansing points out repeat
eddy in his memorandum the injus-
tice of the Japanese claim to, the
rights formerly enjoyed by Germany
In. Shantung. but on this point we
must refer to the following fact
that the Chinese government. in the
treaty concluded on May IS, 1915.
recognized all the matters relating
to the disposition of the right and
interests In Shangtung which would
be arranged between Japan and
Germany.
During their stay in Paris the
Chinese delegates distorted this
fact. saying that they were COM
PEELED to accept the treaty by threat
OF ultimatum 1t il true khat the