Helpless China

1916

Mr. Boyce's Talks

Japan has served a new set of demands upon China. Taking advantage of the fact that most of the world is at war, the Japanese have been gradually moving in on their big neighbor, with the object of gaining complete control, at least, if not actually seizing the country.

The latest move follows a fight between Chinese and Japanese in Mongolia. Japan demands that China employ Japanese military advisers for its Manchurian and Mongolian armies, that it employ Japanese military inspectors in its schools, that certain Chinese army officers be punished and that "special interests" of Japan in Mongolia and Manchuria be recognized.

Over a year ago, when it became known that Japan had forced China to yield a number of important concessions, the United States sent a warning to both countries that we would not recognize any agreement between them which impaired American rights in China or endangered the so-called "open door" policy. That warning was too late, but it kept the record straight, so that if the "open door" was closed we could say that we objected.

The "open door" was secured in 1900, when John Hay, our Secretary of State, requested Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan to sign an agreement that the treaty rights of the United States with China would not be affected by new treaties entered into by them, and every one gave such assurance.

Japan will no doubt declare that she has no designs against the "open door" — and will go ahead with her plans just the same. The Japs could say, "What are you going to do about it?" but that would not be polite and would not be necessary, anyway.

The United States has lost out in China, where we had great hopes of building up an extensive trade. Also, we are naturally concerned over Japan's ambitions, because of the Philippines and the Hawaiian Islands. Japan has long sought to get hold of China, with her great area and enormous population, which could be converted into a strong force to aid in ruling the Far East. Poor old China cannot resist the demands of the smaller nation, for she is unprepared to defend herself, and it does not look as if it would do her any good to cry for help.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 6.