The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-14
ATTITUDE OF JAPAN ASUNEXPECTEDA AS|T
 WAS VIGOROUS, SAYS
 CHINESE STATEMENT
China Issues Frank and
 Open Statement" on the
 Events Leading Up to Japan's Ultimatum-Made Every Sacrifice for Peace

y Peking, May 13.-(yia London s,50 ?.
 m.)-The Chinese government has
 issued "a frank and plain statement'
 connected with "the drastic action of
 Japan" in presenting its ultimatum on
 May '.
 Contending that China aimed at the
 consolidation of the friendship existing between China and Japan nnd was par ticuIarly soIicftous for the preservation
 of peace in the far east. the statement
 says,
 Unexpectedly, on January IS, Japan
 adopted the unusual course of presenting
 list of 2l momentous demands arranged | in five groups. The first four groups were | each introduced by preamble, but there was no explanation to the fifth group. Respecting the character of the demands of this group, however, no difference was indicated in the document between them and those embodied in the preceding groups.
 Although there was no cause for such
 demarche, the Chinese government, in
 deference to the wishes of the Japanese government Immediately agreed to open
 negotiations on those articles which 1t was possible for China to consider. De- spite the palpableness of the whole of the demands being intended to extend the rights and interests of Japan, without securing a quid pro quo of any kind for China, China approached the conferences in spirit of utmost friendliness and with the determination to deal with all questions frankly and sincerely" Complains of Questions The document complains of the ques- tons raised by Japan as to the forma- ton and procedure of the conferences and with Japan's refusal to agree to sign tho minutes of the conferences and the sus- pension of meetings, obviously with the object of compelling compliance with the 1 views of the Japanese minister. Even when Japan dispatched large | bodies of troops to Shantung province and Manchuria, with the ostensible pur- I pose of relieving the garrisons it is point ed out, China, although the action caused l indignation and alarm on the part of the | Chinese people, exerted it's influence to prevent a rupture of the negotiations. Throughout the conferences" says the l statement, 'the Chinese government | steadfastly strove to arrive at an ami cable settlement. and made every conces-
 sion possible. Of the 21 demands sub I mitted China agreed to 15, some in prin-
 cipe some textually, six of them being l intimated by both parties"
 l There is then set out at great length the demands to which China agreed. At l the first conference she accepted in prin-
 ciple the demand that she assent to the
 transfer of German rights in shantung | to Japan, but wished to add clause l that the matter should be left to a dis cussion of all the parties interested at
 peace conference and that Japanese should | agree to restore the leased property to ! China. This, it is contended was not a demand on Japan, but reiteration I of Japans statement made in an ulti-
 matum to Germany last August.
 Ask Indemnity
 l China also asked for the assumption by l Japan of the responsibility for indemnfl- cation for losses arising from the mili- 1 tary operations; that the customs, tele- graphs and postoffces should be contin- l ued to be administered as heretofore, and that the military railways and telegraphs l installed by Japan should be removed forthwith that the Japanese troops out l side the leased territory should be with drawn and that those within should be | China
 Other demands agreed to by China were; l That she should not cede lease to any | third power any territory inland, or land on the sea border of Shantung; that Japan should be given preference, pro- vided Germany abandoned her privilege of supplying capital for the construction of railway from Che-Foo. or Lungkow. 1 to connect with the Kiachau Chinanfu l railway, in the event of China deciding I to build that railway with foreign capital; | that she would open certain important cities in Shantung as trade marts under regulations approved by Japan, although these privileges were additional to any | enjoyed by Germany, and in the opinion Of China, acceptance was not essential to the preservation of peace in the far I east.
 Agreed to Extension i Later China agreed to the extension of
 the leases of Daren-Port Arthur-South Manchurian railway and the Antuny- Mukden railway
 | The statement continues: Owing to the bitter experiences which China has sustained in the past in connection with leased portions of her territory, 1t has Become a settled policy not to grant fur
 ther leases. not extend the term of these now in existence. Therefore, 1t was Il significant indication Vf China's desire to
 meet Japans wishes when she agreed to this exceptional departure from her set | tied policy"
 l At the same conference, China agreed to refrain from raising objections to the principle of A5-operation with the Han 1 yehping company of that company should arrive at an agreement in this respect with the Japanese capitalists concluded With reference to this question, 1t was pointed out to the Japanese minister that l in the provisional constitution of the re- public. Chinese subjects were guaran- | teed the right of protection for their property and freedom to engage in any
 lawful occupation, and the government was precluded, therefore, from interfer- l ring with the private business of the peo-
 pie and could not find any other soiu- tion than the one agreed upon.