NOTES TO CHAPTER XXX

1. New York Times, June 29, 1919, p. 1; New York Times, June 30, 3:1.

2. Copy furnished by the Department of State, Washington, D. C.; and also by the Chinese Foreign Office, Peking (Chinese text).

3. T. F. Millard, China's Case at the Peace Conference, Millard's Review, Supp., July 17, 1920, pp. 4-5.

XXXI

THE POLICY OF WORLD WELFARE

THE fourth policy for China should be the policy of world welfare. By this we mean that China should adopt a policy that will promote, and contribute to, the welfare of the world. It is not sufficient for China to preserve herself, or to recover her impaired rights, or to follow the Golden Rule; she should also become one of the leaders of the world and devote herself to the service and welfare of humanity.

The first task in connection with the policy of world welfare is the maintenance of the peace of the Far East and the preservation and protection of neighboring states with respect to their territorial integrity and political independence, Korea, Philippine Islands, Siam, Burma, India and the Southern Pacific Islands. With those territories already under the control of other Powers, we shall not interfere. With those territories, however, which are yet independent, or which are to achieve their independence in future, we should stand as protector and elder brother. Call this what you will,-the "Asiatic" Monroe Doctrine, or the doctrine of the Middle Kingdom, it is the duty of China to care for the integrity and security of these smaller neighbors.

This task should be assumed by China, because these smaller neighbors are necessary buttresses of China's safety. Any interference with their territorial integrity or political independence affects vitally and keenly the safety and welfare of China. It was the annexation of Korea that made possible Japan's continental expansion, her fall having exposed China to the menace of Japan.

Hence the independence of Korea is indispensable to the safety of China as well as of Japan. Likewise, it was the seizure of Annam and Tonkin that exposed China's southwestern frontier to the aggressive designs of France. Therefore, for the sake of self-preservation, if not for any other reason, China should assume the responsibility of the protection and preservation of these smaller neighbors.

Again, this task must be undertaken by China, because a strong and independent China is indispensable to the political independence and territorial integrity of her smaller neighbors. Just as her own safety depends upon the security of these neighbors, so theirs depends upon the security of China. For China occupies the center of political gravity in the Far East, and the other surrounding states need the stabilizing influence of a strong, stable, independent and protective China. Should she fall, it would undoubtedly disturb the equilibrium and probably entail the fall of her neighbors. Hence she owes a duty to these neighbors to become, and remain, strong and independent in order to fulfill the obligation of stabilizing the political equilibrium of the Far East and of affording necessary assistance and protection to her smaller neighbors.

Moreover, China is the mother of Far Eastern civilization. She developed her own indigenous civilization and then spread it northward to Mongolia, eastward to Korea and Japan and Formosa, southward to Annam, Tonkin, Cochin-China, Siam and Burma, and westward to Tibet and Sinkiang. There is, therefore, a community of interest or a family of States in the Far East, which is distinct from those in other parts of the world. In this Far-Eastern family, China being the mother of their civilization and the center of political gravity, should undertake the solemn obligation to preserve and protect the integrity and liberty of the members of this great family.

Next to the maintenance of the "Asiatic" Monroe Doctrine, or the Doctrine of the Middle Kingdom, China's task in respect to the policy of world welfare is to promote world peace. The Chinese, as a race, are destined to fulfill the mission of promoting world peace. Reasonable, peace-loving, devoid of racial prejudice, regarding "all men within the four seas as brothers," they are peculiarly fitted for the unique destiny of promoting world peace. And to fulfill this mission and destiny, she must strive to maintain the reign of justice and righteousness among the nations. For no peace can enIdure that is not founded on justice and righteousness. In other words, to maintain world peace, it is necessary first to maintain the reign of international justice and righteousness, which is the foundation of peace. And to do so, the most effective way is to maintain the sanctity of the principles of international law. If all nations would observe these principles, there would be no injustice and unrighteousness, and hence, no war. China entered the World War on the ostensible ground of maintaining the sanctity of international law, and this policy, so nobly inaugurated, should remain a cardinal principle of her foreign policy. To this effect China's declaration of war on German and Austria-Hungary, August 14, 1917, reads in part:1

"What we have desired is peace; what we have respected is international law; what we have to protect are the lives and property of our own people. As we originally had no other grave causes of enmity against Germany, if the German Government had manifested repentance for the deplorable consequences resulting from its method of warfare, it might have been expected to modify this policy in view of the common indignation of the whole world. That was what we have eagerly desired, and it was the reason why we have felt reluctant to treat Germany as a common enemy. Nevertheless, during the five months following the severance of diplomatic rela

tions, the submarine attacks have continued exactly as before. It is not Germany alone, but Austria-Hungary as well, which has adopted and pursued this policy without abatement. Not only has international law been thereby violated, but also our people are suffering injuries and losses. The most sincere hope on our part of bringing about a better state is now shattered."

Apart from maintaining the sanctity of international law, to uphold the reign of justice and righteousness and thus to promote world peace, China should actively participate in all the activities and functions of the League of Nations. No matter whether the League, as it now stands, will work well or not, it is her duty as well as her privilege to share in all the obligations of the League, and if its present organization proves inadequate and defective, she should suggest amendments for its improvement. With the establishment of the Permanent Court of International Justice, she should exemplify her spirit of reasonableness and fairness by submitting as many cases of dispute as are feasible and proper, to the end that nations may more and more resort to the court of justice rather than to the arbitrament of the sword. Whenever and wherever the sanctions of the League should be employed to compel the obedience of the recalcitrant, China should, as far as possible and appropriate, share therein."

In addition to the promotion of world peace, she should strive to contribute to the world civilization. As she is so richly endowed with natural resources, she should develop and use them for satisfying the needs, not only of her own people, but also of other peoples through commerce and exchange. As she is credited with the invention of printing, the compass, gunpowder, etc., so, when she has mastered the Western sciences, she should make other discoveries and inventions, and thus contribute to