The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-15
AMERICA HAS
CHANCE TO
AID IN CHINA
But Our Envoy Must Not
BE PrO-Japanesc in
Dealings
By CHARLES 4. STEWART
NEA Service Writer

Washington--It's IA little unfor-
tunate that John Van A. MacMurray,
Americas new minister TO Picking,
who has just arrived in the Orient,
is so pro-Japanese in his views.
It's little unfortunate. also, that
Secretary of State Kcllogg's slant
toward Far Eastern questions un-
doubtedly is pro- British.
It's unfortunate, in both cases,
not because there's anything the
matter, per Sc, with pro British or
pro-Japancse leanings. but because
of the nature of the Chinese crisis
which still impends.
It probably is evident to most
Americans now that Britain and
Japan are mainly TO blame for re
cent trouble in China.
1t isn't over yet, and it wont be
over. permanently, until it's set
tied fairly TO the Chinese. Con-
corning this settlement the United
States. unavoidably, is going to
have a lot to say.
Her selfish interest, as well as
moral obligation, compels it. She'll
have to consider the former, if not
the latter.
Essentially. it doesn't matter from
which motive she speaks. Both de-
mand that she say the same thing
that China has been grossly imposed
upon, and it must stop.
Otherwise every foreign interest
in the country is in danger, maybe
even foreign lives, including Amer
lean lives and interests.
Generally speaking, Britain and
Japan aren't overly friendly now.
They haven't been since the Anglo
japanese treaty was ended--hy the
British to suit their own ends, By
the Japanese because they couldn't
prevent it.
But in this instance they're in
the same boat.
The two nations, each on its own
account and each in its own way,
having exploited the Chinese until
their patience gave out and they
turned dangerous, stand together on
the defensive--if the real offender
can be SAID to stand on the defensive.
Now, Anne ricans talk good deal
Of their altruism in international af-
fairs. Sometimes this may be just-
fled, sometimes not quite so much.
but It's tact that the American
record in China has been good
most unprecedentedly so in history,
for whole people-due largely to
the influence, still felt long after
rs death, of John Hay, as secretary
Il tate
Now's the time to cash in on this.
At such a juncture, is it too much to
say that a pro-Japanese minister at
Peking-a pro-Japanese ambas sador
at Tokyo would be a different thing.
but a Japanese minister at Pek-
ing ?--and a pro- British secretary Of
state in Washington, are an untor-
tunate combination?
OF course it may turn out all
hight, but are those two the ideal
pick?
There's another complication. No
country in the world. not even Japan.
has more chips in the Chinese game
than soviet Russia-and soviet Rus
STA is unrecognizcd by the United
States.
We can't negotiate with her, and
yet she must be negotiated with or
the Chinese situation cant be fixed
satisfactorily, so that anybody can
guarantee it will stay.
An anchor to the windward for
the United States in rather stormy
state of affairs is the chairman Of
the Senate committee on foreign re-
lations, William +. Borah.
Nothings so bad but it might
have been worse. If we hadn't had
Borah.
He's expressed himself concerning
China already. and with what he said
no patriotic Chinese-or American
can find word of fault.
Pro Britons and pro-Japanese will
be careful. at least, with Borah on
the job.
And does anybody recall that
Borah all along has urged recog-
milton of Russia. too? 1t would be
mighty handy-f it had been done
RIGHT pow