The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-05-11
STATEMENT OF CH|NA'S
SIDE OF THE QUESTION
Japan Gives Reasons for Submit
ting Demands at This Time.
RIGID SILENCE BROKEN.
AS Accepted Draft Eliminates or
Puts Aside Some Demands Most
Objectionable to China.

Washington, May 9.-Silenca |
rigidly maintained by the Japanese |
embassy here throughout the long
course of negotiations over Japan's !
demands on China was broken to-
night by the issuance of a statement
prepared by the Toxic foreign office.
outlining the Japanese governments
reasons for submitting demands at
this time and reviewing various
stages OF the negotiations.
Since this statement was written
Japan has presented an ultimatum
resulting in China's acceptance of
revised draft of the demands and the
aVerting of 4 great crisis in the Far
East. AS accepted the draft elimi-
mates or puts aside for future CON
sideration some of the demands most
Objectionable to China; and it is un-
derstood to contain no features
which American officials regard as
contravening American treaty rights.
The imperial government have.
in the proposals lately presented to
Japanese statement, made it their
main object to adjust matters re-
latlng to and to meet the new situa-
tion created by, the war between
Japan and Germany; to strengthen
the friendly relations subsisting be-
tween Japan and China, and thus TO
insure permanent peace in the
Ornent. They, in formulating these
proposals, had taken special care to
| avoid those which might be deemed
to conflict with the principles of ter
ritorial integrity, equal opportunity
and the open door which Japan had
occasion, time and again, to declare
to the powers.
Accordingly, these proposals in
clude, among others, those relating
to the disposition of the German
rights in the province of Shantung.
those relating to the recognition OF
special position and interests which
Japan possesses in South Manchuria
and in Eastern Inner Mongolia.
those relating to the solution OF vari-
Gus questions which for years have
been pending between the Japanese
and the Chinese governments"
After reciting the text of the origi-
nal five crops Of Japanese proposals.
the statement includes an argument
to sustain the Japanese claims. Re
garding Shantung, it is alleged that
| China lacks power to prevent Ger
many from recovering that province
and becoming in the future a source
of disturbance in the Far East.
Therefore, it is asserted that it was
natural that Japan, having with
great sacrifice driven Germany out
of Shantung should take measures
to dispose of her rights there and
prevent recrudescence Of a German
influence there.
Touching Manchuria and also
Eastern Inner Mongolia, it is said.
that Japan's relations there are es-
pecially cuose, geographically and
politincally, commercially and indus
trially, and following two successful
wars, the predominant position of
Japan therein has been recognized
both at home and abroad.
The foreign office reproaches
China for alleged violation of an un-
derstanding with Japan thot the
| conferences we're strictly confiden-
tial, and for having made public
the Japanese proposals in various
exaggerated forms and endeavored to
stir up ill feeling of the powers
against Japan and attempting to
shake confidence placed in Japan by
her allies" China also is charged
with making demands, such as the
unconditional retrocession Of Kia
Chau and indemnity for the damage
caused China by the Japanese mill
tary operations