Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-01

WASHINGTON. u. c.. June 30.-Ja-
pan has never lacked for defenders
in the United States. Her Asiatic pol
icy has been upheld even when its
methods were irregular on the ground
that her friendship for America and
China, as we'll as her high political
ideals would make the end Justify the
means. Now Japan has shown her
hand. II any American does not see
what Japan's course in China means
to the United States. IT is probably be-
cause he never deemed the question
worth Investigating.
Japan made twenty-one demands OH
China. Some OF these demands were
the most sweeping and audacious ever
made by ono modern power on another.
Japan modestly requested that China
should employ Japanese political. finan.
cial and military advisers. that the
police departments OF important places
in China should be put under the joint
administration OF Chinese and Jap
anese that China should purchase from
Japan fixed amount OF munitions o!
war tone-half. or more. OF all tina,
China needed suggested Japan) or
under the direction of Japanese tech
nical experts and using japanese ma
terial
Besides these demands which OBJ
riousiy tramped roughshod over all
China's sovereign rights nation.
ana ever the interests Of all the other
powers including the United States.
Japan advanced many more. She de-
manded that the great Chinese iron
mining company. the Hanyehping
should be made joint Chino-Japanes
concern and stuck in clause to the
effect that no mines in the neighbor-
hood OF those belonging TO the com
pany should be worked by anybody
else. thereby guarding herself against
the superior efficiency of American and
English mining companies.
She ordered China to extend her
lease on Port Arthur and Dalny for
ninety-nine years, and her lease on
Manchurian railways for the same pc
Rod. Thereby China was deprived OF
any chance OF getting hack what be-
longs TO her for another centur:, and
the principle OF equal opportunity for
foreigners in the rich Manchurian ter
ritory-Where American trade former
ly OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES giimmerins for
the same length of time. Japan also
asked for the privilege OF building
railways In ShantunG. told China that
she must get Japan's consent before
borrowing money or granting rail-
way concessions in Manchuria and
Eastern Mongolia mongolia is over n
third the size OF the United States) and
pledged China not to sell or lease any
OF her coast line to any third power
There were several other demands, but
these were tho principal ones and
show with some clearness how Japan
went about securing what she referred
TO In her preamble, as the genera!
peace of Eastern Asia and Il further
Sthening OF the friendly relations
and good neighborhood existing be-
tween the two nations"
japan Ordered silence.
Having made the demands, Japan
strictly forbade China to talk about
them. They were to be kept abso-
lutely secret, or Japan would he snri-
ously ANNOYED and take steps accord
inSly. At the same time Japan assured
The rest OF the world that the demands
did not infringe on anybody's rights,
and save out highly modified state
mcnt of them herself. So we'll did she
do her publicity work that when an
English correspondent in Picking got
hold of the real demands and cabled
them TO his paper. that journal ex-
pended considerable money on n cable
telling him TO cease his false and mis-
leading reports and get down to facts
However, in subtle diplomacy, China
was 1uily the equal OF Japan, and
before many weeks she saw to il that
the dema nds became generally known.
In the face OF questioning from the
chancellories Of Europe. i'm the face of
note from the United States fatly
refusing to recognize the result OF the
negotiations, Japan blithely stuck to
her course. She would have preferred
to put II through without unnecessary
trouble. but II trouble came. she was
ready for It, The conferences between
the Japanese minister and the Picking
government continued. Japan con-
sented to notifications In few of her
demands, postponed a few others for
future reference. Sraciously consented
that China, instead OF signing her
rights away by treaty, might in Ger
tain cases do exactly the same thing
by an exchange Of notes.
. All this time a double garrison oss
Japanese troops had been stationed in
the north Japan explained that the
fresh troops had come to relieve those
whose term OF field duty had expired:
but for some reason the relieved troops
stayed on the job alongside the new
Corners When China asked when the
garrisons would be reduced to their
normal strength. she was bluntly In.
formed that this would be done as soon