So Much for National Self-Determination! (July
14,1919)
Poland and Czechoslovakia, in reestablishing their national existence, have presided
over the death of Germany. The Allies did their utmost to help them in this, in the name
of “national self-determination.” The Arabs benefit from the splitting up of Turkey, and
therefore were allowed to become semi-independent. The desire of the Jews to restore
their nation in Palestine will not succeed because it is of no great concern to the Allied
powers. The Siberian government 28 has acquired merit by attacking the extremist party
and as a result has now been recognized de jure. Wishing to gain a foothold in Siberia,
Japan has to make a show of its goodwill, so it was the first to propose recognition.
Korea bewails the loss of its independence; so many of its people have died, and so much
of its land has been devastated, but it was simply ignored by the Peace Conference.
So much for national self-determination! I think it is really shameless!

28 Shi Jingtang (892–942), a general of Turkic descent, and son-in-law to Emperor Ming of the
Later Tang dynasty, bribed the Khitan to help him to the throne, and in 936 proclaimed himself first
emperor of the Later Jin dynasty. He, like Liu Xiang, enjoyed no real power and was said to have died
of frustration at his own subordinate position.