The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-23

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leave Japan free to carry on her ac-
tivities in north China and England
free to carry on her activities In
south China.
Working out such a thought is no
buggy ride. IL 1t is done 1t will be
not an alliance but a. joint declaration
Of principles.
The statement of 1t will naturally
be made by the United States. as the
most detached of the three powers.
The Open Door is associated with
the name of John Hay. II this later
problem can be solved the doctrine in
which II is enunciated is likely to be
known as the Hughes doctrine.
May Abandon Pact.
Mr.. Hughes has already made prog
ress in formulating the general prin-
ciples on which we found our policies
and our rights in the various parts
OF the world, and specifically in the
Orient. 1t is a good long step, how
ever. from those general principles TO
an exact statement about Whit we will
and what we will not stand for in
China.
II we do work out such a formula,
Great Britain will then be willing to
give up her alliance with Japan. Since
the war that alliance IL of less use
TO her for any definite purpose than
Il is as q mere embodiment OF friendll-
ness and Joint action with Japan. AT
the present moment the two powers,
for practical purposes, have China
blocked out into spheres of influence,
or, in other words, spheres OF invest
ment.
1t is fairly certain IL an idea Is born
before November IL that Is satisfactory
to Great Britain. to Japan and to two
American getlemen by the names of
Harding and Hughes. said idea will be
put through the conference.
Canada with u. s.
When the preliminary moves were
being made in London, at the confer
ence Of the British Empire. the Prime
Minister of Canada had a triumph. he
stood for two things:
That England should make with
Japan no arrangement not satisfac-
tory to the United States.
That a Canadian minister should
soon be added to the diplomatic
corps at Washington.
Mr.. Meighan will be in the Novem-
! Der conference. and all signs are that
MS INFLUENCE VIII bt boNN 80 H'''
mony with that Of our State Depart
ment. 49,,
In certain ways Canada Is still
| treated as subordinate of the
, mother country. Theoretically, al
| though not in practice, her laws can
| be overruled by parliament. she
cannot amend her own constitution.
| From her highest court an appeal
lies to the law branch OF the privy
council Canadians scarcely figure
In the permanent diplomatic service.
But these in practice are small
/, matters. Whatever Canada seriously
wants she gets. Just now she seri-
ously wants the United States suited
in any arrangements made about
Asia.
The one other element in the ques-
ton is China. AS far as Asia Is
| concerned we can forget France and
Italy. But to satisfy China is a
necessity in any successful plan.
China Puzzle.
And what Is China? The Picking
government is officially China. But
what about the Canton government?
And which Of the two groups of claim
ants is the de jure government of
South China?
China does not wish to be exploited
as an inferior or backward country.
Her people are able. industrious, in
telligent, but only a few Of them are in
touch with modern industrial condi-
tons They speak different languages
and have little sense of national unity.
Yet their natural resources are de-
sired by the modernized nations, and
SO IL their trade. What about 1t?
II the answer flashes into Mr.. Hard
ing's mind some day In the bath tub
or on the putting green, or into the
mind of Mr.. Hughes while he is lis
tening to some dub talk at dinner, an
epoch will be marked in the history
of the world.