Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-22
JAPAN TO EXPLAIN
SHANTUNG PURPOSE
David Lawrence Points to
Possible Way Out of
Difficulty.
CHINA'S BIG QUESTION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The Japanese government has been
her intentions with respect to Shan
tung. Serious consideration Is being
given the proposal in Toxic. There
Is every sign that before many days
have passed one of the chief obstacles
to the ratification Of the peace treaty
and league Of nations will have been
overcome.
Information obtainable here con-
corning the Japanese attitude on
Shantung makes it possible to indi-
cate as q way out of the difficulty an
expression something like this:
Mr.. Lawrence Points to Way Out.
Japan does not understand why
American senators should question her
motives or her pledged word. but will
not fail nevertheless to reiterate the
promise formally made on May 26.
1915, to restore kiaochow to China.
Japan has received by the Yer
sailles treaty only those rights and
privileges previously held by Ger
many.
No secret treaty or agreement was
ever made between Germany and
Japan during the war, and any sug-
gestion of that kind Is public re-
Election on Japan's integrity and good
faith as an ally.
President Wilson urged the Japanese
mission in Paris to FIX definite time
WIN Kiaochow would be restored to
China. In view of the agitation in
the United States, and particularly
the greater harm to Japanese-Amert-
can relations than good which Japan
can obtain by insisting on q policy OF
in Shantung. the ACCESSIBILITY of a
public expression by Japan fixing a
time limit appeals strongly to Japa-
nese here as solution of the con-
troversy.
Nothing could be more explicit, de-
clare Japanese officials, than the fol-
lowing pledge. made by Japan on May
IS. 1915:
IF upon the conclusion Of the pres
ent war the Japanese government
should be given an absolutely free
disposal of the leased territory OF
Kiaochow bay they will return the
said leased territory to China sub
ject to the following conditions:
Il. Opening of the whole Kiaochow
as commercial port.
"2. Establishment of Japanese
settlement in the locality to be desig-
mated by the Japanese government.
"3. Establishment, if desired by
the powers, of an international set
Element.
~. Arrangements to be made be-
fore the return of the said territory
is effected between the Japanese and
Chinese governments with respect to
the disposal of German public estab-
lishments and properties and with
regard to the other conditions and
procedures"
What China Agreed To.
China also agreed on that same date
as follows:
The Chinese government engage to
recognize all matters that may be
agreed upon between the Japanese
government and the German govern
ment respecting the disposition of all
the rights. interests and concessions
which Germany possesses in relation to
the province Of Shuntung."
Now China has refused to carry out
! that promise by declining to sign the
Versailles peace treaty, arguing that the
above pledge was made under duress
of ultimatum. Nevertheless no noti-
fication of a reputation of the pledge
was given prior to the Versailles con-
ference. Indeed, the sending of a
special mission by the Chinese gov
Japanese emperor was generally look
ed upon as an evidence Of the re-
sumption of friendly relations after
the negotiations of 1915.
Japan has again and again promis-
ed in memoranda and oral converse
tion between her diplomats and
officials of entente governments that
she would return kiaechow to China
She never has asked for possession
of the province of Shantung itself as
has been often intimated in the pub
lie debates.
China's "Big Question"
The big question asked by China,
and by those in the Senate who are
criticising the transfer of German
rights to Japan is. when will Japan
give back Kiaochow. the principal port
of Shantung?" Japan has never pub
licly fxed a time limit She may or
may not have intended to keep the
port for an indefinite number of
years. Her friends insist she meant
an early return and will prove it
by a public statement Her foes
argue that her failure to be explicit
on the time of return is not without
purpose Japan herself is consider
ing the answer to the question.
Whether the declaration will come
in the form OF a communication to
President Wilson from the Japanese
premier or minister of foreign affairs
or from Baron Maxine, head of the
Japanese delegation in Paris, is as
yet uncertain. but that a statement by
Japan will clear up the Shantung
controversy is what senator's and 9th.
ers who have been talking with Presi-
dent Wilson confidently expect
And with the Shantung problem out
of the way, the opponents of the
treaty will center their attack on ar
ticle ten and the phraseology of the
clauses safeguarding the Monroe doc
trine. Thus is the Senate openly ar
irving at it's decisions concerning tho
covenant that came from Versailles.