The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-20

loosened at this conference are as
serious as these serious observers
fear, IL Is better that they be out
than IN the box, for they are OF such
nature that, confined. they will be
sure TO explode, but, give them
time. they may dissolve under the
healing TOUGH OF light, sun and air.
But why are these people close to
things in Washington aghast at
the program OF the conference. peo-
pie who two months ago looked for
ward to IL with confidence. even ex-
ultation. Nc doubt this Is explained
partly BY the saddening realization
that cutting down ornaments does
not necessarily mean long-con-
tinued peace: that there must be-
settlements. When they look over
the problems to be settled, attempt
to put themselves in the place of
the people concerned, find solutions
through agreements which do not
require force behind them, they are
appalled, at the difficulties in the
way.
Japan, Aggressive, Needs Food.
Let US put the problems which
face them into their simplest terms:
Japan cannot get enough food on
her six big and her 500 little islands
for her 100000 people. She is
splitting over into China and its
northumberland merely as a
settler. content to till the soil, to
work the mines, to sell in the mar
ket place, but as an aggressive
conquerer. aspiring to military
and political control as well as eco
nomic opportunity.
China, that is Young China-the /
founder OF the republic. says she |
kaT h.
govern and administer her own and |
we, China's friend, are backing the |
integrity she demands. But Japan |
IS "in China"-"in" as are Great /
Britain and France. She has an
army and navy to back her pre-
tensions and she can very well say.
and does. why should Great Brit
ain and France be allowed to hold /
their political and military control /
in Hong Kong and in TOngking, to |
raise and train troops, not their /
own people, but natives, collect |
taxes. run post Offices and we be /
forbidden? II they do these things7 |
and they do. why should Japan NOT |
have equal privileges?"
Young Against Old China.
Young China answers to this |
pertinent inquiry. 1T was Old |
China that arranged those things |
You are dealing now with a new |
China. one that does not intend 20
barter its inheritance, that pro-
poses to rule its own; a China that |
will no longer submit to having a |
carving knife applied to its breast |
what Old China did we Inherit |
ed and must make the best Of IT, |
but II is our duty to see that no |
nation on earth ever again takes
a
give. You must abandon your eff /
fort to direct our policies admin
lister our railroads. keep your
trosps on our soil"
What frightens nv doorkeeper. /
who gets his views from the press,
and the press. that gets its views /
from hundred conflicting sources, /
f. =how peacefully Japan's right to
foods for her people and China's 4
right to her own are to be squared. /
Can the one inalienable right be
fitted into che other inalienable |
right by other means than force?
OF course there are many places on
tha-farth besides China where ia
pan.might expand. but search as
they will these anxious observers
do not find any available spot ex-
cept- in Asia.
--Give Japan somethinE!-
ODE OF the chief occupations in
washington as the peace confer
ence- opens is trying to find some
territory from which Japan can
get her food: something the con-
ference can give" her, something
that will satisfy her. AS things
now are such a search must start
with the presumption that there is
nothing for Japan on the Western
Hemisphere. Obviously there is no
place for her in Europe: Australia
will not have her; we will not have
her; we will not consent to her
penetrating the Philippines. The
narrower the confines are drawn the
more hysterical observers grow in
their search. the more they insist
the conference must give" Japan
consisting "'Give' her Eastern
Siberia" But what right has this
conference to deal with any part
Of SIBERIA The United States has
finally settled her attitude to this
suggestion by declaring that she
will not consider at this meeting
any proposition of Russian terri
tory. She refuses to countenance
the carving up OF Russia as she
does any further carving up of
China she refuses even to recog-
nize the government that Is now
struggling to plant itself in East
ern Shorthand IL looks as IL II
had very good foothold 1t is Rus
sia,s problem to take care OF the
Eastern Siberian Republic. She
rnuSt be free as China must be
free TO work out her own destiny.
How About MaIchurins
Then give" Japan Manchuria.
She already has important recoG-
nized rights in Southern Manchuria,
rights that come from old wars: the
territory borders on Korea which
japan holds and governs and I'M
doaoredly the conference will not
dispute her claim to Korea, since
that claim stands on the same kind
Of a bottom as England's claim TO
Hons. Kong and Frances to Tong
kiugs- 1t Is the fruit of the nations
deaffng with old China This being
so and Japan having her established
hold~in Southern Manchuria and
having made remarkable record. .
gaye. her the country.
But here comes Young China ,
again. 'Manchuria Is ours" she ,
saysss We will not recognize the :
rights thatsJspan claims through her !
treSey made in 1918. 1t really was
treaty with Old China. still alive in
our Republic. 1t was wrested from 1
US by cunning and bribery. There I