Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-03
Jap Civil Rule in
Tsingtau Province
Arous;ng Chinese

| Correspondence Associated Press)
Picking, Feb 1S.-Substitution by
| the Japanese of civil administration
| for military rule in Tsingtau and
along the Tsingtau-Tsinan railway,
| which is regarded here as giving the
| appearance of permanency to Jap
| ans occupation of that territory in
Shantung wrested from the Germans
at the beginning of the war, has
! aroused the indignation Of the Chin
| csc local population. This has been
| expressed in petitions to the central
government. to the governors of 9TH
err provinces and to influential Chin
csc organizations.
The Chinese government has pro-
| tested to Toxic and has received a
reply stating in eject that the in
auguration Of civil government was
done with the idea that it might
please the local population better
| than military regime.
Japan's point of view, as des
cribed here. is that any obligation to
vacate the territory in question after
| the war. which existed by virtue Of
Japan's declaration at the time of
| its occupation has been annulled by
China's declaration Of war against
Germany and the consequent can
collation. OF existing treaties.
1t is understood in Picking taat
Japan holds the ultimate disposition
of this territory must be The subject
OF further negotiations between
China and Japan.
Meanwhile Japan is perfectiag
and extending her civil adninistra-
ton on the ground that Z IS her
duty to maintain peace and prosper
ity in the territory she captured from.
Germany. Leading Shartung men,
who view with despair Japan &C
ton say much capital is beng made
of the Lansing-Ishii agreement. Ac-
cording to these authorities the Jap
anese declare that their position as
special guardians of that territory is
! now fully conceded and that no
power can resist it.
The bitterness which has develop
ed on the part of the Chinese is IN
dicated by the paragraph in writ
ten protest by the Shantung provin-
cial assembly, which reads: Our
fellow men in the province of Shan
tung in their struggle to be released
| from political calamities have de-
termined never to taste Japanese
fish or meat even though they
starye"
Causes of complaint cited in pro-
tests which are raining in upon the
central government follow:
| In Tsingtau, Fangtze, Changtien
and Tsinan the Japanese have es-
tablished civil administration de-
| partments in disregard for Chinese
sovereignty. The Germans during
the entire time of their occupation,
/ II is pointed out, never attempted to
institute civil administration and left
to China the right to police the rail
way. There are already Japanese
consulates throughout Shantung to
look after the welfare of Japanese
residents making unnecessary the
establishment Of civil administra-
ton.
Japanese civil officers have al
ready assumed jurisdiction in cases
OF rents and debts.
| Whereas the Germans only en-
joyed priority in acquiring mining
rights, the Japanese actually inter
fere in some instances with mines
already owned and exploited by
Chinese. even to the length of pro-
| hibiting the sale of products.
! THE building OF roads establish
ment Of an industrial school and the
] taking over of control OF a railway
Z, hospital and the hospital for gen
darmes in Tsingtau is regarded as
evidence OF intended permanent oc-
cupation."
The Chinese could perhaps forgive
the Japanese for other acts if they
4 had nnf AYfan1nd 10
to the railway and to railway
zone" about ten miles wide, extend
ing as far as Tsinanfu. According
to competent authority no conven-
i ton was even enacted with the Ger
mans for a railway zone.
i This want of any authority for a
railway zone is being urged by the
Chinese foreign office in it's protest
i against the alleged encroachment.
The Japanese. in reply, argue the
| difficulty of altering a decree issued
by their emperor, declaring that
what they are doing in Shantung is
such authority.
existing treaties any decree by Jap
an can only affect the Tsingtau dis
trict and the erstwhile German leas-
, ed territory, therefore there is no
, need of modifying the decree, the
: only requisite being to properly in,
!, terpret- it.
!. While the respective foreign Of.
fices discuss the merits of the con-
!, troversy the influx OF Japanese into
/, the territory in question is said to
be growing from day to day.
Only lnteress Worth Anxiety. 4
Uducatton u the 0.ly interest
eUfthy the cesr controlling Gnxisty