The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-08-21


government sincerely believes it to be
its duty to give the advice of the i'm.
perial German government to carry
out the following two propositions:
"First--To withdraw Immediately
from Japanese and Chinese waters
German men-of-war and armed vessels
of all kinds, and to disarm at once
those which cannot be so withdrawn.
"Second-To deliver on a. date not
later than September Is to the i'm.
perial Japanese authorities without
condition or compensation, the entire
leased territory Of Kiau Chau, with q
view to the eventual restoration of
the same to China.
The imperial Japanese government
announces at the same time that in
the event of 1t not receiving by noon
on August %, 1914, an answer from the
imperial German government signify.
ing its unconditional acceptance of the
above advice offered by the imperial
government, Japan will be compelled
TO take such action as she may deem
necessary to meet the situation"
Features of Issue.
The salient features in this new and
grave issue, made known through au.
lucrative sources. are:
Japan's action was taken on the pro.
posal of Great Britain and after full
conferences which led to the determi-
nation that the Anglo-Japanese treaty
OF alliance applied to the present sit
uation; the two allies, Great Britain
and Japan, are therefore cooperating
in the action now in progress.
Japan's ultimatum Is in the first in.
stance fulfillment Of her part in the
Anglo.Japanese alliance, but it is de-
signed also, an issued having arisen, to
terminate Germany's control of Kaiu
Chau, which Japan holds endangered
the integrity of China and the peace
Of the Orient.
Japan's action did not come as an
entire surprise. It was the climax OF
a series Of diplomatic moves in which
the United States had been consulted.
Japan's assurances that she will
maintain the integrity of China are
regarded by American officials as
satisfactory, and there Is no DISPOSE.
ton here to believe the administration
will assume any attitude other than
that of passive observer should japan
declare war.
Situation Considered Delicate.
The Far East situation for several
days has been regarded by officials as
delicate one. Almost simultaneous.
ly with the outbreak of hostilities in
Europe, China appealed to the Ameri.
can government, expressing the hope
that she might rely on the previous
policy OF the United States as an in.
fluence against the violation of her
neutrality. The American government
1t is understood, did not indicate VIVA.
her attitude would be, preferring to
outline her position as developments
arose. Immediately Germany began to
sound the American government as to
the possibility of neutralizing the Ger.
man province in China and the att;.
tude Of Germany was conveyed infor.
mally through the United States tn
Japan.
Ambassador Guthrie at Toxic has
had many conversations with the jana.
nese government, in which the intima.
ton was constantly given that the
United States could feel assured of
Japan's intention to maintain the in.
tegrity of China.
Germany's colonies and dependen.
cies in China and the Pacific threaten.
ed by Japan's ultimatum consist Of
Kaiu Chau, protectorate In North.
eastern China on the Yellow Sea and
in the Pacific German New Guinea
composed of the Kaiser wilhelmsland
the Bismarck Archipelago. the Caro-.
line Island, the Marianne Island. the
Marshall Islands and the Samoan Ia.
lands. Of savaii and Opolu.