The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-04-14
JAPAN MAKES REPLY
PEKIKG CHINA TELLS OF REPLY
TO INQUIRIES OF .. S.
NEGOTIATIONS Continue

lUIlAIlUNS GUMllNUC
Japanese Government Objects to Con.
struction OF Naval Dock by Imeri-
cans in the Harbor OF Santuao on
Account Of Its Strategic Impor-
tance.
According to Peking, China, dis
patch, China received Thursday an
outline of the note of the United
States to Japan concerning demands
made upon China by Japan and OF
the reply of the Japanese govern
ment. It was said the reply was
made on March % by Takaaki Kato.
Japanese minister cf foreign affairs.
The Chinese report said the Amert-
can note specifically asked i've ques-
tions. Those questions and Japan's
replies thereto are set forth as fol-
lows:
The United States inquired con-
corning Japan's demand that in the
province Of Fukien Japan shall have
the right to work mines, build rail
roads and construct harbor works,
and in the case Of employment Of for
eign capital that Japan shall be first
consulted.
The japanese government replied
that those concessions were desired
for the primary purpose Of prevent
ing other nationals from acquiring
special rights there, japan under
standing that Americans wish to
build dock yards in the harbor Of
Santuo. That position is Of great
strategic Importance. Japan pointed
out, on account of the possibility Of
it's use for directing operations
against Formosa in case Of war.
The second question concerned ia
pans demand for supervision over
the manufacture or purchase Of war
munitions by China. The Japanese
government expressed the opinion
that this question could be solved
most satisfactorily by the employ
ment Of mixed forces Of Japanese and
Chinese; system which, Japan says,
already exists.
The third question dealt with the
Japanese demand that the Chinese
police in certain places be administer
ed jointly by japanese and Chinese
officials, or that China shall employ
numerous japanese to organize the
Chinese police The japanese gov
ernment replied that this demand ap-
piled only to Southern Manchuria-
| The fourth question concerned the
demand for employment by China Of
Japanese political advisers. Japan re-
piled that political advisers will not
be imposed upon China, but merely
recommended.
The fifth question related to the
demand Japan was said to have made
| that "no island, port or harbor along
the coast shall be ceded or leased to
any third power" The japanese gov
eminent replied that this proposed
restriction would apply to Japan as
well as to other powers.
The Chinese government, it is said,
has been informed that If the Ameri-
tcan government pledges itself not to
construct naval dock yard at San
| tuao, the Japanese will forego their
demand for special privileges in ;Fu-
kien, probably excepting the building
Of railroads. It has been learned
that the agents Of an American steel
company visited Santuao two years
ago at the request of the Chinese gov
ernment and considered the project
of naval base there, but that even q
preliminary contract was not signed.
It is asserted that the late Japa-
nese minister to China, Enliro YAM.
aza, subsequently informed Paul S.
Reinsch, the American minister, that
Japan could not permit the consum-
nation Of such project and that Mr..
Reinsch replied that there was no
treaty. to prevent American contrac-
tors undertaking the task and that
Japan's declaration Of sphere Of in
fuence in Fukien did not apply.
The American steel company still
holds a contract with China aggre-
eating $20,000,000 for underlined
naval construction, and under which
only one gunboat has been specified
up to the present. This contract was
awarded by the Manchu government.
The republican government evidently
desired the Santuao project to abb
sorb the remainder Of the $40, 0,0o0,-
900, but the company expressed dis
satisfaction.
Regarding the reply of Japan to
the second question Of the United
States, it is denied in well informed
! quarters that "mixed system" ex-
! lists in the arsenal It is added that
the replies to the third, fourth and
fifth questions are contrary to the
text Of Japan's demands, but that
Japan already has given the Chinese
to understand that she would modify
these demands.
President Yuan Shi Kai has car
ried the entire responsibility for
| China, and virtually alone he has OBJ
tanned the best terms he could. Tho
president often has sought foreign
advice, comforting only this week
with two foreigners.
The progress of these negotiations
is beng watched with the closest at
tention by all the foreign diplomats
at Peking, and the British and amer
ican newspapers published in China
are equally interested.
Interest now centres on what con-
cession China will make on the
clauses Of the Japanese demands pro-
viding for employment by China Of
Japanese advisers; for japanese right
of ownership to land in the interior
Of China; for employment Of Japa-
| nese police n China; that China pur-
chase munitions of war from Japan;
that China grant Japan railroad con-
cessions in Eastern Central China;
that China permit Japan to work
mines and build railroads in Fukien
province, and that japanese subjects
be allowed to propagate Buddhism in
China.
Some foreign newspapers antici-