The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-18
Japan's Tag

WAS China's day, that is, the Chinese dele
gates at the conference given their
chance Wednesday to present a brief on
behalf OF their country. Just what is China just
what these delegates represent just for what part,
or Tor how much OF China, for whom in that
great national conglomerate they can speak, is an
other matter. But the brief forms something to
consider in principle" if not basis for nego-
tiatlon 1t is something to be treated with out
ward respect, if not with inward seriousness.
1t consists OF eleven statements principles
all quite distinctly Chinese in that they may mean
much or little demand much or little and can be
considered now, in other century. They
arc inoffensive, and while they seem to say much,
really say far less but fine subject for argu-
if any others indulge in that pastime
Most OF them, in fact. be accepted as stated
without changing in the least the status quo in
the Celestial Empire. They are so general as to
be wholly nnocuous; just statement Of principle,
and government denies a principle, while
few ever live up to
There is a quite persistent rumor which everyone
may well wish shall come true. This is that Japan
taking a leaf out of the book of Mr.. Hughes will
day give the conference its second sensation
in plain, frank statement of Far East policy
fair, generous and appealing to the interna-
tional sense OF justice the American proposal
to naval armament. Maybe Mr. Hughes left this for
ton. Far East that first day. Maybe he is
waiting.
But however that may be- this is distinctly
Japans job; it is her chance; is her psychology
cal moment. The way is open and there is no mis-
taking the sgnboard. Japan certainly does not
wish to have her Far East program put her
plate by others for her to swallow. She does not
have the United States and Great Britain
in the gentlest and friendlest way, tell her
where and how she must get off" in China nor
what she agree to do or not to do there and
in Siberia. Naturally she will prefer to lead the
way and while fixing her own place, also fix theirs
1t is recognized and has been said times with
out number that Japan is the defendant before the
conference juvenile court. The fact is the infant
nation has been rather precocous in undertaking
10 do what she has adult nations doing or
what they had done. AS is the rule with children
under such conditions she has made rather a mess
OF it, has gone too far, too fast and without adult
hnesse and skill. She has been little crude in
her methods. Brought into friendly court, some
what fearful OF possible humiliation she could not
-aith certainty prepare her in advance.
Butsnow she knows She must realize that no
advantage is desired of her YOUTH she is not really
IN court, but in conference; equal among EQUALS
The atmosphere is surcharged with subteties
intrigue, backstair combinations or insinuation On
call horse to horse talk" plain, matter of fact
straight-out discussion OF facts to reach conclu-
sion which will be unfair to, or wrong no one.
The scene is laid for Japan to step to the fooghts
and make her speech just as Mr. Hughes made his
The proposals must be such as can be readily
accepted "in principle" and "a basis for further
negotiations" They must be such as will meet
popular approval, for this is a peoples conference
as the great war came to be peoples war They
must at least sound generous practical workable;
they must ring true, not a dull counterfeit This
will more than Japan's pride. 1t will win for
her the highest praise and go far to remove that
prejudice OF color and suspicion of motives which
it would be useless to deny have been and are her
share.
Her elder statesmen have always been wise
beyond their opportunity. They have looked far
ahead and have been keen even to see their own
mistakes. They have misinterpreted the West at
times and the West may have misudged them
But the permanent place Of their country is with
the West for the simple reason that she is so
far in advance in government, industry, commerce
and ambition than all else that is East Now i,
their greatest opportunity since they opened their
gates to America. Again it is America and like
response will do more for their beloved coun-
try than did that of much less than century ago