Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-29
JAPAN NOT YET
READY TO GIVE
SHANTUNG AIM
Awaits Return of Peace
ENJOYS Before Making
Amy Statements.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Japan is not yet ready to make a
| public statement of her intentions
/ with respect to the return of Kia
| Chau but will do so in due course
| This does not mean that eventually
| the whole Shantung question will
| not be cleared up in way salts
factory to American public opinion
and appease the opposition in the
American senate. But for the pres
| ent there must be indulgence, the
Japanese-feel. The japanese dele
CATION at Versailles has not yet re-
turned to Toxic. Certainly no de-
tailed negotiations. can be carried
on till they return though public
statement of policy may of course
be made before Maruis Sionji, now
enroute to Japan, gets home.
Japan's diplomatic representa-
tive here, Charge d. Affaires
Debuchi, went to the de-
partment of state today. Neither
he nor officials at the department
would make a statement. But il
is the second visit of the charge d
affaires in five days. He was in
vited there on the return of Sec
retary Lansing; who at the in
stance of President Wilson laid be-
fore Mr.. Debuchi in a very tactful
way the embarrassments that had
arisen in the American senate with
reference to the Shantung proYis-
ion of the peace treaty.
Statement Asked For?
Though Mr.. Lansing said nothing
afterwards, senators on capitol hill
gave reporters the impression that
Mr.. Wilson was hoping for direct
statement from Japan and had vir-
tualIy asked for one. What is,
however, incorrect is the inference
that Mr.. Wilson threatened to
make a public statement if Japan
did not do so. This published
story is resented by friends Of
Japan on the ground that public
opinion in Japan would not take
enthusiastically to what it might
thus construe as coercion. Indeed,
there is reason to believe that the
impression grew merely out of the
idea that the way out of the Shan
tung controversy lay in two dis
tinct methods-either a statement
by Japan of her intention to return
Kia Chau on a fixed date or else
permission from Japan enabling
President Wilson to make public
documents in his possession relat-
ing to the return of the leased ter
ritory to China. 1t is inconceiv-
able that Mr.. Wilson adopted any
threatening attitude in the midst of
of a friendly negotiation and
friends of the president deplored
attempts to stir UP bad feeling in
that way.
Toxic Awaits Peace Envoy.
On the other hand, the second
visit by the Japanese charge d
affaires carries the inference that
he has received some word from
his government in answer to the
inquiries made last week. The po-
sition of Japan would seem, there
fore, to be this:
The head of the Japanese dele
cation made certain statements to
President Wilson at Paris both
orally and in writing The Toxic
ministry which is already under
fire by the opposition party headed
by Baron Kato for its attitude in
the peace conference, does not feel
itself entirely familiar with what
happened at Paris. Marquis Salon
iii left London q few days ago via
the Mediterranean and ought to be
in Toxic within month. Until the
Japanese government knows all the
assurances and commitments made
by its delegation it doesn't want ID
make any public statement. The
cables between Paris and Toxic
have been working badly. It is
known that the congestion on the
Pacific cables has amounted at
times to a delay of seven days.
Japan doesn't wish in any way. to
seem to be sighting American pub
lie opinion. The dangers of the
present controversy, particularly
its after effects on the relations be-
tween the United States and japan,
have been carefully reported to the
Japanese government. But the
japanese government feels its
hands tied by, circumstances. Just |
as President Wilson himself in his /
letter to Senator Lodge asked for /
the indulgence of the senate until |
he could get from Paris certain pa
pers needed 20 answer the ques- !
tons asked in senate resolutions, |
so Japan would like the indulgence I
Of the American people until her I
premier and foreign minister can 1
have talk with the japanese dele /
gates now enroute home.
Feel China Should Sign.
But there is still another cfrcum-
stance which is of the most inn
Dortance and which bears directly
IN the formula by which the con-
may be settled. It is
China's persistent refusal to sign
he peace treaty. Until China def
1itely attached her signature or
Continued on Page Nine.)