Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-02-12
THE JApAscH1NA CRISIS.

81
aecording to REPEATED reports that have
reached Hawaii from the Far East in the past
few weeks. NsFs9 s-y,T-
II cannot be doflbted that the situation is
serious. The press bf both countries is filed
with news and edit0ral comment on the in
creasingly strained relations. As Toxic and
Picking each speaks through semiofficial or
gans, much Of the newspaper utterance I'M
donbtedIy represents either the intentions of
the government or its 'feelers'' Of public
opinion.
The causes of the dispute may be briefly
summarized: 80 $50. IS.
Even before the fall of 'Tsingtau, China and
Japan had rubbed shoulders on the question of
the sswar zoneu When Japan gave notice of
her inteltionto attack Tsingtau as an offensive
measure against Germany on behalf of her
allies, the Chinese government requested both
belligefents to confne their military operations
within wel-defned limits. The Shantung
peninsula was the general scene of the siege of
Tsingtah, but China asked that the operations
be restricted to a terrain in the immediate Vi |
entity of the besieged port The precedent of
the Manchurian operations nine years before
was cited as giving the Chinese government
the right so to do
Japan, however insisted that wider sswarl
zone" was necessary because the sphere of
German influence, through military. railroads
and mines, extended considerably outside the
limits suggested by China. Accordingly, the
Japanese land operations in some cases were
outside the war zone This was the first cause /
Of grievance,
After the fall Of Tsingtau, Japan established
its military occupation and several branches of /
civil administration IN the Shantung peninsula, |
including postal system and customs ssys- /
tenn. China soon protested this, asecondscatse
OF grievance. s@1
S00n.after China addressed series of notes.
to Japan stating that as Tsingtau had fallen,
there was no longer need. for the war zone,
and requesting the withdrawal of the Japanese
troops Japan replied that Tsingtau was still
under occupation BY tire military and she could
hot comply with the request After third
note had been despatched by China with no
result Picking gave formal notice that the war
zone had been abolished and requested rather
per6mptorily that Japan restore all points out
side the leased territory still under military
occupation. Japan s reply was not made pub
lie but is understood to have been a sharp re-
ioinder that Japan would do as she saw fit on
the Shantung peninsula.
In the meantime, another breath had been
blown on the enbegs IF res ntmpm By the COM
nercial situation at Tsingtau. The galAneseI
government, it was alleged, had promised tol
open Tsihgtan to foreign tipping on December
81 In reality, only I5 Spanesd syessels were all
lowed To enter. The Japanese gave the expla, Il
nation that tie harbor and adjacent waters. had
not yet been cleared Of mines and that safety I
could not be guaranteed foreign shipping. This q
explapaton has not satisfied either the Chinese It
o. the foreign element in Hongkong and It
Shanghai is
The danger of the situation created by all If
these causes for friction is heightened by the II
ill-will perfectly apparent between the twolN
countries. The press of Japan, largely for po-
Iitical purposes, Is attacking the Okuma min
istry for alleged failure to deal with the Tsing,l 5
tau situation, firmly. The ministry is openly a
urged to t.show the iron hand with China. fheg s
contempt of these politico journalists for thel
Chinese government being poorly concealed.A
On the other hand the Chinese government tot q
quote a Peking Journalists Frequently makes s.
the mistake Of acting as though the JapanbseF i
military authorities did not exist and BY adopt q
inc measures which she is not IN a position to-
enforce exposes herself to systematic humiha-!
ton. Her serbs of notes to China on the ii
abolition of the war zone" are pointed to as
Instances of this diplomatic procedure followed
by humiliation. ly