The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-23
Revelation of a British
French-Japanese Pact
Surprise to Wilson.
REAL DIFFICULTY
Concessions Irreconcila-
BILE With Terms Under
Which President Says
Peace Must Be Made.

BY Justin McSrnth-
Washington. April c2.--It now APP
GEARS that the secret treaty betweed
Great Britain and Italy. by which
Italy was guaranteed possession o.
he Daimatian coast. was not the only
secret arrangement entered into by
he allies In contravention of Prest
tent wilson's fourteen points.
There was also secret under
standing between Great Britain and
France and Japan by which the Brit
sh and French governments were
committed to recognition of the lcgtt!-
macy of Japan's claim to possession
of the German Pacific Islands north
IF the Equator and also the conces-
sions which Japan demanded OF China
in return for Japan's evacuation oil
The Shantung peninsula taken over by
Japan early In the war
Reports from Paris state that The
revelation OF the secret arrangement
between Great Britain and France and
Japan relative to Japan's claim to the
Pacific Islands and valuable rights tn
ShantunE came as a complete sur
prise to President Wilson and the
American high commission
I place credit in these reports be-
cause / recall that when I was In
Paris Ire attitude OF the American
high commission was that China was
justified In protesting Japan's de-
mAnds to rights and concessions In
ShAntunE which, II was held. would
Sfve Japan practical control of thai
rich province.
CHINAS CONTENTION.
These Chinese contention was that
the treaty under which the rights
were conceded and the concessions
s~f. Axs SF1a
under compulsion. The Chinese as
serted that they were given the alter
native either Of signing the treaty of
tered or having Japan declare it,
possession Of Shantung permanent
Moreover, ii was declared by the
Chinese that one OF the conditions i'm
posed on China by Japan WAS that
China was not to convey any infor-
nation to European allies OF the
coercion used by Japan to compel ac-
ceptAnce OF its demands.
The American representatives. ]
know, put faith in these representa-
tons of the Chinese. Their attitude
in January WAS one of resistance to
1Apan's claims. They were strongly
Inclined 70 the view that the treaty
between the two oriental nations deal
ing with the German pacific islands
and rights and concessions in Shan
lung should not be permitted to be
some operative.
SO, a. the reports from Paris say,
IL must have been a great surprise TO
them TO learn that Japan in Feb
ruary, 1917, had brought her claims
10 the attention OF both the British
and French governments and had had
hem endorsed.
II will be interesting and important
20 watch the future attitude OF the
American commission toward these
claims of Japan to the German hold
ing in the far east III they accede to
hem. America will lose some of the
great prestige ii now has in China
And If they refuse to subscribe 70
them, Japan Of course. viii consider
hat she has a new grievance.
Irrcconcilable With points"
The treaty of London recognizing
Itaiy's right to claim the eastern
coast OF the Adriatic was not recon
cilabie with number one OF President
Wilson's fourteen points, which de-
clared in favor of open covenants of
peace. without private international
Understandings
And the secret agreement which II
liz now made known. has existed for
TIVE years between Great Britain and
France and Japan ia in clear VIOLA
ton of numbers five and fourteen of
the presidents fourteen points Num-
Der Ave, declaring that there must BE
an impartial adjustmen of all colon
lal claims based upon the principle
that the peoples concerned have equal
weight with the interest OF the gov
eminent and number fourteen, de-
claring In favor of the preservation OF
the territorial integrity OF large and
small states alike
am informed on very excellent au-
thor1ty that President Wilson was NOT
without knowledge OF the treaty OF
London At the time he delivered his
message containing the famous four
teen points. But NO dihlculty was ex-
pected over the London treaty be-
cause the collapse Of Austria rendered
1t unlikely that there would be
troublesome opposition to Italys nc
QUESTION Of tho eastern Adratic coast.
At that time the issue between Italy
and the Jugo-Slavs over Fiume had
not been raised.
But the secret treaty between Great
Britain and France and Japan, witt,
respect to Kiao Chou and Shantung
peninsula concessions. presents a very
real dif71culty, for that treaty is IT.
reconcilable with the terms and con-
ditions under which President Wilson
declared world peace should be nego-
tiated and II II shall be recognised as
valid by the United States the friend
ship Of China for the United States
might be seriously impaired.