Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-27
L. 8. MAY DE ONLY POWER
TO MAKE STRONG: PROTEST.

WASH INGTON. January 26.-Mcrcly
postponed and never definitely aban-
doned was the status of group five Of
the Japanese demands upon China. "a
IL was understood by officials here
Diplomats here question whether the
developments OF the military situation
in Europe have not placed the allies in
position where they may feel that
they cannot afford TO take issue with
Japan. Many OF them feel that the
only power in position to make any
effective protest against renewal! OF
tho Japanese demands is tho United
States.
When the question was last under
consideration year ago. the lap
;tncse government assured Amba sSad or
Guthrie that group five never was in
tended 10 10 included IN the treaty or
treaties which Japan was concluding
with China.
The demand that pan be given a
monopoly Of railroad construction in
certain parts OF Ch.na and in Man
churia wns regarded as ciosiug the
door 10 American opportunity for sup
plying railway material in that
quarter
What tho attitude OF tho United
ta,cs viii hc is not known at this stage
on January IS. 1915. Japan presented
20 china a lis, Of twenty-one demands.
arranged n five groups. The first
group related TO tho ShantunE Province
and TO the ConCedinc 10 Japan OF rights
and privileges previously ENJOYED by
Germany IN Shantung as we'll as now
prcrogatiycs.
Group two related to South Man
churia and 10 concessions there for
leasing Of property, trading. railroad
operation and construction tho appor-
''onmcnt Of Japanese as political. hnan-
cial and military advisors. and other
concessions. This group also included
demands for special rights TO be
granted TO Japan regarding inner Mon
rolia. Group three ..efcrrcd TO tho
Hans Oh Ping Company. Group four
known the special group" de-
mandch tha; China proclaim that here
after She would not yield or lease any
coastal territory 70 any power. Group
i've, known as the general group"
was the one which aroused most vigor-
Gus protests from the Chinese govern
mcnt II contained seven articles. the
hrs, regarding the employment by
China Of Japanese as advisors; the
second. the construction OF japanese
hospitals churches and schools in
China; third. III" employment OF lap
ancse in III" police departments in the
large centcys; fourth. China to pur
chase a certain proportion Of war mu-
nit!ons from Japanese: NTH. Japan'S
right TO construct certain railroads in
China; sixth. concessions 10 Japan in
the Province OF Fukien. and. seventh.
the right OF Japanese subjects to
propagate Buddhism in China.
The United States government adj
dressed note to Japan with regard to
tho demands made upon China. query
ing in particular with respec, 10 three
points: the selection of foreign ad
visors by China, the purchase of war
munitions. and the question OF foreign
loans. The Japanese government re-
piled to the note on March 20.
on May % two treaties between
Japan and China together with thir-
teen notes. were signed in the Chinese
Foreign ONCE. covering, 1; was an
nounced. the practical conclusions
reached on the Japanese demands. OF
which. however. FIVE articles left for
Interior argument. 1t was understood
a the time that the articles for con-
sideration were those Of group five.
The articles in this group were orig
inally seven In number, but II was later
stated that article three had been elm
mated. and that article six had been
displaced by pledges that China would
undertake no military or naval prepa-
rations. nor authorize foreigners to
undertake such preparations on the
Fukien coast In the future. 1t is pos
sible that the seven demands alluded
to in the Manchester Guardians article
were the original seven OF group FIVE.