April 24, 1919

This afternoon Makino and Chinda appeared by appointment, as solemn a pair of Dromios as I have ever seen. And only a few hours before we had learned that Orlando had run out on the Conference and was speeding to Rome. Makino said he had come in all frankness to announce that Japan would not sign the Treaty unless her informal promise to return Shantung to China, after receiving a pledge from the Chinese government that Japan would enjoy the same privileges in the returned province as are enjoyed by the other foreign powers, was accepted as satisfactory by the Conference. Somewhat sarcastically, Makino said:

“In Tokyo they do not seem to see why we should be the least-favored nation in our relations with Shantung simply because almost unaided, with but the nominal support of a British token force, we rescued the province from the German invaders.”

While he retained, as always, his attitude of personal dignity, it is clear that Makino is “mad” all through. And I am not surprised; every broken-down newspaperman from the east coast of Asia is here writing scurrilous articles about the Japanese. Of course I do not believe that Japanese promises are beyond suspicion, yet at the same time I can see how difficult it is for the Tokyo delegates here to apparently yield to this crusade of vilification. A possible loss of “face” is involved, and in Asia that bulks large; in fact there is nothing larger. The Chinese should recover Shantung and I have no doubt they will, but it would be much easier to persuade the Japanese to take this proper step if the Chinese press would refrain from its campaign of abuse. Chinda said to me yesterday:

“Does it not seem strange to you that the Japanese forces driving the Germans out of the holy province of Confucius did not receive the support of a single Chinaman?”

And I confess it does seem strange, but as I well know the Chinese are a strange people. You must not measure them with an American or a European yardstick.