, 1923-01-29
Securing Justice

ACHIEVING no other success during his incum.
u bency of the presidency, Mr.. Harding's lead
ership in bringing about the righting of the wrong
imposed upon China by Japan would entitle him
to be acclaimed a world benefactor. His calling
of the Washington conference accomplished that
end and removed a cause of contention which would
certainly have resulted in the utmost bad feeling
until some future war had wrested from Japan the
former Chinese province of Shantung.
Shantung, comprises an area of $4,000 square
miles in which reside some $4,000, 900 Chinese. Not
only that, but VIZ are informed that "Shantung is
known as the cradle of Chinese civilization. Con
fucius and Mencius were born here, and here is the
sacred mountain of Tai-Shan." Not primarily be.
cause of long possession and unquestioned title, nor
because of Chinese population, but because of its
associations with the Chinese religion, China would
never have ceased her efforts to regain Shantung.
On the flimsiest sort of pretext Germany ac-
quired concessions in Shantung in 1897, which gave
her practical control through her economic domi.
nance. Upon declaring war against Germany in
1914 Japan seized the German rights and possess
ions i'll Shauntung and proceeded upon the theory
that she had acquired practically an indefeasible
title and right of complete control. This right was
disputed by China with a vehemence that foretol'
an endless controversy. 1t was apparent to all
students OF the situation that the almost countless
millions of the people of China would press their
claims regardless of the amount of ultimate blood
shed. Temporary weakness might delay her sue
cess, but there would have been no yielding of the
purpose until it had been attained.
When the president called the Washington con.
ference he displayed farseeing craftsmanship by
including among subjects for discussion and ad-
judication controversies on the Pacific which car
rled threats of future wars. Through the ~tactful-
ness of the president and Secretary Hughes the
representatives of China and Japan were induced
to continue discussion of the subject when at fire,
quent times it seemed as though a final break mus
come. The ultimate result was that Japan agreed
to yield and has yielded the rights she claimed in
Shantung upon the payment of a reasonable amount
representing the value of the German railroad she
had seized. 1t may be fairly said that having be.
come convinced of the error of her claim, Japan
acknowledged that error frankly and fulfilled her
promise of withdrawal in letter and in spirit. ia.
pan can stand before the world with a clear con.
science; China has the satisfaction of seeing n
wrong righted; the Chinese people are free from the
constant irritation that would be felt by alien pos.
session of her most sacred shrines.
The president has not only rendered a good serv.
ice to the Orient but has retrieved the good name
of the United States. When Mr.. Wilson was pres.
ident he gave approval to the treaty under which
Japan attempted to retain Shantung. His act, so
far as he was able to make it so, became the act
of the United States. Our government, however,
was prevented from becoming a party to such an
atrocious agreement by the refusal Of the senate
to ratify. Had that treaty been ratified the con
troversy would have been continuous until one of
the bloodiest wars in history would have been
fought Oh the eastern shores of Asia.
AS n promoter of peace Mr.. Harding is entitled
to rank in history of peace accomplishments.