Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-11
cut their purpose Of making them pub
lie at the conference.

lie at the conference.
Advices from the orient through dip
lomatic channels say American min
lister Reinsch at Picking. seeking to re-
assure the Chinese foreign minister
with statements Of the friendship OF
the United States government was told
frankly that tho foreign minister did
not see how at this time the United
States or Great Britain could divert
their attention to the orient when the
European situation demanded so much
attention.
Officials Of the state department de-
clined to make any formal comment
today on the situation. The impression
was given that the whole matter was
being handled in Paris.
Verbal Reports on Treaties.
Upon arriving in Paris without the
copies Of the treaties which they had
been instructed to use In seeking to
break Japan's grip, the chinese dele
gates made verbal reports Of the sub
stance Of these treaties to some Of the
peace delegates Of the other countries.
demand Of China that she disavow
this action on the part Of her delegates
and that she keep secret the treaties.
Some Of the secret treaties have not
yet been ratified by the Chinese gov
ernment. altho Japan has ratified them,
and according to today's advices the
Japanese government Is bringing every
pressure to bear on China to ratify
them before anything can be done at
Paris. The most important Of these
treaties a. yet unratified by China is
the agreement Of Sept. "a, 1918, which
grants Shantung to Japan and admits
China as the successor to Germany's
rights, concessions and properties in
the Shantung district This includes
railway lines and other valuable prop
eerty and the rights to them for long
term of years. AccoAding to- the
Chinese claim, Japan already has pos
session under treaties and agreement
of two -fifths of the iron ore deposits of
the entire Chinese'republic and is seek
ing possession Of the other three fifths.
To Defy Japan.
Although they so far have been able
to resist the Japanese demands the
Chinese officials now say that the pres
sure Is becoming unbearable. The
Chinese president has approved by
cable the action OF the Chinese dele
gates in Paris In announcing their will
ingness to make public the treaties in
spite Of Japanese pressure.
China has asked, depending upon the
impression made upon the accredited
delesates from other countries, that the
peace conference see that the demands
made upon China by Japan in 1915 be
revoked and that the Chinese, republic,
be removed definitely from the in
1dence OF Japan. s-..s,s u
Yelled Thfsats Made.
According to the reports received
here, the threats against China were
conveyed to the Chinese foreign min.
lister by the japanese minister in
Peking in thinly veiled terms. The
Japanese minister is said to have
pointed out that Japan had an army
OF more than million men idle at
home, fully equipped and with arms
and munitions enough to conduct
long war and to have pointed out that
Japan had more than half million
tons OF shipping, with the intimation
that this would be ready on short
notice for active work.
He also is said to have referred
pointedly to large sums Of money owed
to Japan by China, and to the fact
that China had been unable to live
up to her financial agreements.
China Asks Protection.
The complete independence Of
China Is asked under the protection
Of the league Of nations.
The account of Minister Reinschs
visit to the Peking foreign office says
he reaffirmed the friendship Of the
United States for China and desired
to get support in her desire for in
dependence. He learned, however,
that the Japanese minister in Peking
reached the foreign minister q few
minutes before him and conveyed the
ntimation Of what would happen if
Japan's demands were not met.
The Japanese attitude is said to
cause real alarm in official circles of
European powers and states. They
speak Of constant efforts of Japan to
acquire concessions in China and
Siberia and her demands for the Caro-
line and Marshall islands