The Washington herald., 1921-07-31


and with Germany. have resulted in the expulsion of
Russia and Germany from the Far East, while the
circumstances attending the last war, enabled Japan
while the Of the world absorbed in its strug-
gle with Germany, to extend its influence until today
one faces accomplished fact, a japanese domina-
ton Of China, which cannot be contested and found
its final confirmation in the events OF the Versailles
conference and the Shantung decision.
We have then TO face the fact that to establish
the "Open Door" policy in the Far East, must
do something than sign documents or arrive at
written agreements. The notorious LansiDs-lshi
agreement is the best evidence of the weakness of
this sort Of procedure. Ostensibly this agreement
represented the mutual recognition by Japan and the
United States of principle of the "Open Door" This
is what the language Of the document expressly said
But there added recognition our part of the
fact that Japan geographical position her spe
eial interests. What President Wilson obviously
sought was expression of mutual good will which
would abolish existing bad feeling What he actually
arrived at was the concession of the precise thing
Japan sought ~
TN diplomatic language. in the relations of great
Il nations, the recognition of the special position
of country with respect of another has been
the last step in the legalzaon of the absorption Of
one by the other. Thus the Ageciras conference,
called at Germanys demand to assert the in
dependence of Morocco, ended by recognizing the
special position of France and Spain and the next
step the partition of the Sheridan Empire between
these two countries. L..
On the strength of the Lansing -Ish agreement
Japan claimed in China and with the Chinese that
the United States had recognized what amounted to
hegemony China still relying upon the long-estab-
lished friendship of the United States, although
ifesty shocked by the LansingIshi agreement. came
to the Paris conference seeking justice. The result.
which foretold to the Chinese in advance, by
their Japanese masters the Shantung settlement
-k.If.
ment asserted the integrity of China. but in fact
mtted Japan to extend her hold upon China.
AIoW the root of the, whole Pacific problem is
NJ just this: Japan holds position in China,
e = y which amounts to something unpleasantly
like complete control The character of her control
is totally different from the American conception of
the "Open Door" in the Far East. Moreover given
her present advantages there is nothing short of
or a surrender in advance of war, which avail
Once more, emphasize the fact that we are dealing
with accomplished fact
Japan will agree with the United States on a pro-
gram of limitation of naval construction. She can
hardly be- asked to make similar agreement in the
matter of armies, because none of the European
powers represented at the conference is prepared to
reduce its army to the size of This is true
in the British case because of Colonial difficulties, it
is true OF the French because of German problems
it is true OF the Italians for variety of But
far fleets concerned, Japan has put away
the dream of naval supremacy in the Pacific because
the result of the last demonstrated that it
longer attainable. ...'
90 FAR the road is clear for success in the Wash
- ngton conference II is plain that Great Bri-
tain will support our thesis, that the British
dominions share view and, by contrast with the
United Kingdom, have immediate with the
Pacific that is, far Australia, New Zealand and
Canada concerned The attitude of Japan when
the subject broached Indicates recognition by
the Japanese of the world situation.
On the other hand Japan will not consent to
reduction of naval strength which would weaken her
strength relative to the United States and her exist
ing strength would permit her to defend herself