Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-05-30
JAPAN USING CIVIL
RULE IN TS|NCTAu
China Protests, Believing 1
Means Intention to Perma-
nently Occupy Country.

Pcking-tTSy TaiI.)-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 Japan's occupation
of that territory in Shantung wrested
from the Germans at the beginning of
the war. has aroused the Indignation of
the Chinese local population. This has
been expressed in petitions to the
central government to the governors of
other provinces and to influential
Chinese organizations
The Chinese government has pro-
tested to Toxic and has received a reply
stating i'll effect that the Inauguration
of civil government was done with the
idea THAI it might please the local popu-
lation better than a military regime.
Japan's point OF view. as described
here. is that any obligations to vacate
the territory in question after the war,
which existed by virtue of .lapan's
declaration at the time of its occupa-
ton, has been alnulled by Chinls
declaration of war against Germany
and the consequent cancellation of eX-
listing treaties.
1t is understood in Peking that Japan
holds that the ultimate disposition of
this territory must be the subject of
and Japan.
Meanwhile Japan is perfectins and
extending her civil, administration on
the GROUND that it is her duty to main
tain peace and prosperity in he terri
tory she captured from Germany. Lead
ing Sllantung men, who view with des-
pair Japap's action say much capital
is being made of the ~Lansins-lshii
agreement. According to these author
titles the Japanese declare that their
position as special guardians OF that
territory is now fully conceded and that
no power a resist it.
The bitterness which has developed
on the part of the Chinese is indicated
by the paragraph in a written protest
by he Shantung Provincial assembly.
which reads: Our fellow men in the
province of Shantung in their struggle
to he released from political calami-
ties have determined never to taste
Japanese fish or meat even though they
arve."
Causes of complaint cited in pro
tests which are raining i'll upon the
central government follow:
lin Tsingtau. Fangtze, Changtien and
Tsinan the Japanese ave established
civil administration departments in dis
regard for Chinese sovereignty. Tho
Germans during the entire time of their
occupation, it is pointed out. never at
tempted to institute civil administra-
ton and left to China the right to police
the railway. There are already Japan
csc consulates throughout Shantung to
look after the welfare of japanese resi-
dents making unnecessary the estab-
lishmeMt of civil administration.
Japanese civil officers ave already
assumed jurisdiction in cases OF rents
and debts.
"Whereas the Germans only enjoyed
priority i~Qsacquiring mining rights. the.
Japanese actually interfere in some in.
stances with mines already Owned and
exploited by Chinese. even to the length
Of prohibiting the sale OF products.
1.-THE building Of roads. establish
ment OF an industrial school and tho
taking. over of control OF "a railway hos
pital and the hospital for sendarmes in
Tsiugtat is regarded as evidence of in
tended permanent occupation"
The Chinese could perhaps forgive
had not extended their jurisdiction to
about 10 miles wide extending as far as
Tsinanfu. According to competent au-
thority no convention was even en-
acted with the Germans for a railway
zone.
This want of any authority for a,
railway zone" is being urged 10y the
Chinese foreien 'office in it's protest
| 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.
The Chinese declare that under ex-
listing treaties any decree by Japan
a only affect the Tsingtau district
and the erstwhile German leased ter
ritory. therefore there is no need OF
modifying the decree. the only requisite
being to properly interpret it.
While the respective foreign offices
discuss the merits of the controversy
the influx Of Japanese into the ter
ritory i'll question is said, to be grow
ing from day to day.