The New York herald., 1921-11-24

Judge Wiley Sees Danger in the
Root Resolutions.


Root Resolutions.
To The New YORK HERALD: I have
the conviction that the adoption of the
Root resolutions by the conference has
given rise to situation which is very
grave from every point Of view. and
especially from the point OF view OF
our own country. They are general and
vague and in the light Of history are
bound to be looked upon by the parties
In interest as meaningless.
The tactics adopted by our Govern
ment on this proposition are exactly
opposite to those 1t adopted on the naval
reduction proposition, which brought the
| world to our feet. Little wonder that
Baron Kato regards them as altogether
satisfactory" The Baron might well
have written them himself. i assume
that the door is not closed to further
discussion. but ! feel sure that It will
now be exceedingly difficult to put
through and render effective concrete
SPECIFIC measures with reference to the
Far Eastern situation.
My judgment is the recognition Of the
status quo in China is fatal to our in
tcrests. Under the Hay doctrine. which
is about the same thing as the Root
resolutions. Japan has carved up China
and appropriated about all of 1t she
wanted. Chinese sovereignty now is a
mere fiction. II Japan is permitted to
get by with the broad daylight robbery
she committed in 1916 without being
called to account at the bar of the ma
tions it is idle in the future to talk
about the rule of right. the principles
OF international law and the self-deter-
mination OF nations and. what is more
to the point. it will be worse than folly
for this nation to sit idly by in the vain
hope that Japan's aggression in China
will come to an end.
II the Root resolutions constitute the
main settlement Of the China question
they will be looked upon as sanctioning
Japan's past actions and as guaranty
that she can proceed with immunity in
the future as she has In the past. am
not so much concerned about China's
fate as I am about the fate Of my own
country. If Japan Is permitted to alb
Sorb China we will be face to face in
q short time with a formidable Power
on the Pacific which will tax our re-
sources to the utmost to cope with.
That we will have to fight is as GER
tain as that the sun will rise tomorrow.
Japan is the Prussia of the Far East
I am disappointed in this move. Our
first move, which presented a definite
specific programme. brought such a
startling success that our nation has
tremendous prestige in the eyes Of all
the world. 1t placed her in a position
to do what she wished in China within
the bounds of reason. In the language
Of Bismarck all Of the "imponderables''
are on our side-right, Justice, the spirit
Of the times and the public opinion Of
the world. In my humble judgment had
Mr.. Root come out with definite, spe-
cific programme demanding:
First-The restoration Of all lines OF
communication in China to the Chinese
Government:
second-The restoration Of the control
OF her tariffs to China;
Third-Thc withdrawal Of all foreign
troops from Chinese soil. and
Fourth--The restoration to China Of her
iron fields end OF other natural re-
sources essential to her independent
existence
a foundation would have been laid for
discussion which would have yielded
substantial results. 8o
Unless something far more definite
and specific than the Root resolutions is
adopted our naval programme will be
a delusion and snare and the public
opinion Of this country will repudiate
1t the moment the full meaning of the
Root resolutions is understood.
1t is not enough to get rid OF the
Anglo-Japanese treaty. The mischief
under 1t has been done. The proposition
now confronting us is to undo that mis-
chief and. in measure at least. restore
to China her sovereignty, which the
Powers have stripped her of during re-
cent years. My own judgment is that
unless something very definite and spe-
cific is done along these lines the arma-
inent conference from our standpoint is
going to turn out to be failure.
lived in the Far East many years
and have followed its DEVELOPMENT
closely for two decades. It is full of
danger. We have an opportunity of a
hundred years. Our first move at the
brought England souarely TO
our side. This having been accom-
plshed, we are in position with the
aid OF England to restore to China her
actual sovereignty, to render Japan an
invaluable service. and, what is more
Important. to lay the foundation for the
peace OF the world for generations to
come. fear we are going to let slip
the opportunity, and I am free to con-
fess that do not quite understand the
reason for II, LEBBEus r. WHITLEY.