Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-11
Thinly Yeiled rerma,

Washington, d. c.. Feb. 11.-Ac.
cordlnE to the reports received here,
the threats against China were con-
veyed to the Chinese foreign minister
by the Japanese minister Of Picking
In thinly yelled terms. The Japanese
minister is said to have pointed out
that Japan had an army Of more than
a million men idle at home, fully
equipped and With arms and NUM-
tons enough to conduct a long war
and to have pointed out that Japan
had more than a hale 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.
Upon arriving in Paris without the
been instructed to use in seeking to
break Japan's grip, the Chinese dele
gates made verbal reports of. thessub-
stance of these treaties to some OF the
peace delegates of the other counties.
This led the Japanese authorities to
demand Of China that she disavow
this action on the part Of her dele
gates and hat she keep. secret the
treaties.
Some of the secret treaties have not
yet been ratified by the Chinese gov
eminent. although 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 the treaties as yet unratified by
China is the agreement Of September
"a. 1918, which grants Shantunk to
Japan and admits Japan as the u c
cessor to Germany's rights, conces-
sions and properties in the shantung
mines and other valuable property
and the rights to them for a long
term of years. According toethe Chit
nese claim, Japan already has possess
sion under treaties and agreements
of two-fifths Of the iron ore deposits
of the entire Chinese republic and is
fifths. -.
Although they SO far have been
able toyresist the japanese demands,
the Chinese officials now say..that the
pressure is becoming unbearAble. The
Chinese president has approved BY
cable the action Of the Chinese dele
gates in Paris in announcing their
willingness to make public the treaties
in spite of Japanese prksshfe.
China has asked. depending upon
the impression made upon the &C.
credited delegates from other coun-
tries, that the peace conference see
the twenty-one demands made upon
China by Japan in 1915 be revoked
and that the Chinese republic be re-
moved definitely from the influence
Of japan. The complete independ-
ence of China is asked under the
protection Of the league Of nations.
The account of Minister Reinsch's
visit to the Picking foreign ONCE says
he reafirmed the friendship II the
United States for China and desired
to give active support in her desire
for independence. He learned, how
ever, that the Japanese minister in
Picking reached the foreign minister a
few minutes before him and conveyed
the limitations Of what would hap
pen If Japanss demands were not met,
Dispatches received here describ-
ing the situation at Paris declare that
Japanese attitude is causing real
alarm in official circles Of European
powers and the United States. They
speak of constant efforts Of Japan
to acquire copcessions in China, and
Siberia and Of her demands for the
Caroline and Marshall islands and
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