Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1919 — YELLOW PERIL LOOMS; JAPS DEMAND CONSIDERATION [ARTICLE]

YELLOW PERIL LOOMS; JAPS DEMAND CONSIDERATION

Paris, April 3.—Baron Makino, head of the Japanese delegation to the peace conference, in a statement to the Associated Press today on the position of Japan, said: “You ask me for a plain and frank statement of the position of Japan, Well, I am. tempted to ask you a question in reply. “Do you think it possible for me to say anything that will not be wilfully distorted and misinterpreted by those who have so long and so persistently sought to clog the eofffts of my country, to ascribe to her motives, she has never had and to malign her at every turn? Let use see. “You will note here that America was the first country to agree to make a treaty with us abolishing ex-tra-territoriality. You must remember that we did not ask to join this first league of nations. We were forced to do so. Perry came to us with navale Power and forces to compel us to open Japan to intercourse with the western world. “We yielded and I am glad, as is all Japan, that we did yield, because it has been of great benefit to our country. “And now we are asked a second time to join a league of nations. But how? As equals? If so, we ate ready. We want to consider with the greatest care of interests of all our associate nations in such a league because by no other policy can the league of nations succeed. “No Asiatic nation could be happy in a league of nations in which sharp racial descrimination is maintained. While we feel very keenly on this point our precise position must not be misunderstood nor misrepresented. “We are not too proud to fight, but we are too proud to accept a place of admitted inferiority in dealing with one or more associate nations. We want nothing but simple justice. We are glad to join the league of nations and do our full share in the maintenance of the world’s peace and order and the reign of justice for all peoples.’’