The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-16
JAP ULTIMATUM ]. REPORT SCORED.
 BY DR. YENACA
Denies Nippon Seek ks to Force China Govern
 ment Into War.

. '
 Dr. ToyokichTs Iyenaga,. Of the East and West. News Bureau. ridiculed the
 report that Japan had sent an utli-
 matum to China on February l9, de-
 manding that China declare war against Germany, on pain ofsthe selz-
 ure of the Chinese iron and coal mines and the Hanyang foundries, the confiscation of all German and Aus trian vessels and property in China, and the taking over by Japan Of the training and officering of the Chinese army.
 To point the absurdity of this story, Dr. Iyenaga turned to the article pub- lished recently by Dr. Ukita, one of the leading intellectuals or liberals of Japan, in the Taiyo (Sun), of which he is editor. In this article Dr. Uki- ta says that Japan's policy towards China in the past has been unjust and unstable, and he calls for convin- cling proof from Japan to show China that the fears which have been arous- ed may be Que1led. Dr. Ukita's Judg- | ment in the matter, said Dr. Iyenaga, was thet true reflection of the course of sentiment among thinking Japan csc.
 ''It is quite true,' continued Dr. Iyenaga, "that Japan's treatment O1 China must often have seemed thatrof an exacting taskmaster to Americans. But you must remember that Japan has far greater interest at stake in
 China than your people. Your pin- cipal interest in China is sentimental For instance, do not hesitate to say that you would not spend dollar of treasure or a cent of money to uphold the integrity of China and the open door, But 1t is vitally necessary for Japan to uphold China's integrity and the Sbpen door, China is at our doors; she is around the world from you. Aim of Japanese Policy "Japan's great ambition with re- gard to China is to make the Chinese people abandon their age-long policy
 of playing off one great Power against
 another and stand upon their own feet. We keep telling them that un-
 til they stand upon their own feet
 they will not be safe. That is what
 our policy is aimed to obtain. The
 Chinese are a great, virile race, but
 they have yet to learn this lesson. The
 suggestion that Japan has taken the extreme step sending an ultimatum to
 China is unthinkable.
 Nothing that we know would justify such a course. As have said, a
 great many Japanese, like Dr. Ukita,
 now believe that we have been too harsh in our attitude toward China, and the tendency in Japan is to keep
 rather towards the other extreme.
 'eWhy should we wish to seize the Tayeh iron mines and the Ping-shiang collieries, when we already have an agreement with the Chinese for 8 cer- tain percentage of the output? As for the suggestion that Japan would like to put the Chinese army under the supervision of Japanese officers. Jap
 an has perfect right to suggest to China the employment of Japanese
 military advisers, but that is as far as
 she may go, unless China approves the idea. As a matter of fact, out of 5.000-odd foreigners in the employ of
 the Chinese government, between 400 and 500 are Japanese, HOO are Bri-
 tish. 1000 are French and there are even 211 Americans"
 Of.the reported resignation of the Chinese Cabinet in disapproval of President Li Yuan-Hung's refusal to declare war on Germany, Dr. Iyenaga said: =
 CT know only what I have head in
 the newspapers. The President is a very pleasant man and we'll liked, but not so strong as Yuan Shi-kai. That
 makes all the more remarkable the fact that he should stand out so stub bornly against his Cabinet. It is quite possible that German agents have been working on him. I should not be surprised if that was the case, but we have no proofs at hand. The re- port that Wu Ting Tang, who was