The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-24
PROTEST TO JAPAN
AMERICA and OTHER POWERS
have sent NOTES
.JAPS ARE SURPRISED

Japanese That If Demands Werf
Excessive Allies Could no Longer
Treat Diplomatically - United
States Looks After Her Interest.
Official information is credited II
Peking that the Russian and British
ambassador at Toxic called upor
Baron Kato, the japanese Foreigr
minister, last Saturday, and informed
, him that if Japan persisted in press
ing upon China demands beyond
those contained in her original com
munication to the powers it would be
difficult for Japan's allies to nego'
tiate diplomatically with her in the
future.
It is understood that on the same
day the United States, acting inde,
pendently, although possibly after
consultation with another power, in
formed the Japanese government that
certain Of the Japenese demands were
not in consonance with treaty agree
ments between China and the United
States.
American and British opinion
throughout China are in concord in
this matter, as voiced privately, semi.
officially, and by the press. Meetings
have been held at which the Japanese
demands have been discussed and
protests have been sent to their re.
spective governments by both Ameri-
can and British associations.
The opinion is expressed by both
Chinese and foreign diplomats that a
substantial proportion OF her de-
mands will be withdrawn by Japan
because of the attitude Of the powers,
who have called China's attention to
the fact that she has no right to
make q treaty with Japan contra
vening existing treaties with them.
At various foreign diplomatic es-
tablishments In Washington doubt
was expressed as to the correctness OF
the report from Peking that the Rus
sian and British ambassadors at
Toxic had informed the japanese for
eign minister that if the excessive
Japanese demands on China were per-
sisted in the Allies might find it diff
acult to negotiate diplomatically with
Japan In the future.
Surprise was expressed at the JAP
anese embassy, and it was said with
reference to another portion Of the
Peking dispatch, that it was not
known to the embassy that my rep
reservations had been made by the
United States government to the jap
anese government concerning the
Japanese proposals in China.
In another quarter it was said that
the japanese demands on China had
been formulated in such way as to
avoid any conflict between them and
the understanding between Japan
and other powers with respect to
China.
eve have the matter in mind" is
as far as Secretary Bryan has been
willing to go in answer to inquiries
as to what course this government
would adopt in connection with the
Japanese demands on China.
It is admitted by state department
officials that since the beginning OF
the negotiations between China and
Japan the United States government
has quietly been exerting Its in
1uence to have the japanese demands
ameliorated and to prevent any in
fringement Of the rights OF Amerl-
cans either under treaty OF the proVt.
sions Of general international law.
There representations have been
made in Washington to the Japanese
ambassador, as well as In Toxic and
Peking. Officials Washington have
refrained from making public any OF
the steps the United States has taken
in these negotiations. Regarding the
situation as delicate, they preserved
the same attitude when the latest
news dispatches frcm Peking were
shown to them.
In the best posted diplomatic quar-
ters there was nc confirmation OF any
Joint British-Russian representations
at Toxic of the nature indicated from
Peking. One dispatch from Toxic
received in Washington dealt with
other matters, and made no mention
of such representations.
Moreover, the assertion Is made
that strong influences are at WORK
both at Peking and Toxic to stir uE
an animosity between Japan and hel
allies, and there is disposition
among the diplomats OF the allied
powers to attribute reports OF Joint
Anglo-Russian representations as
growing out of feeling adverse to the
allies.
It was also stated that there hat
been no consultation between the
American and British government:
regarding the effect Of the proposed
japanese demands upon existing
treaty obligations.
In various public utterances thu
Japanese minister for foreign affair:
and the premier are reported to have
disclaimed any purpose on the part o
the japanese government to infringe
upon the existing rights of other ma
tions in making demands upon China
These were regarded as pertaining t
matters that were at issue between
China and Japan only.
However, the disclosure OF two
sets of demands as the result OF thu
State departments inquiries causet
the United States to deal with thi
subject with extreme caution. and i
is believed that Minister Reinsch, a
Peking, has been instructed to watcl
closely and make sire that Chin;
does not concede any point that woult
affect any OF the rights which th'
United States now enjoys in Chin:
by reasons of existing treaties.
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