The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-29
.CH|NO--JAPANESE
SHOW DOWN NOW
Territorial Controversy to Be
Brought to Climax at Meet
ing Of Big Three
Today.
HAD SECRET TREAT
Same Firm Stand to Be Taken
Italy's Case, Which ResultN s.
In Much Excite
ment.
HAD SECRET TREAT
[Ry Carl D. Groat, United ]
Correspondent.1


PARIS, April ga climax was pre-
dtcted in the Chino-Japanese territor-
ial controversy when the "big three
met today.
According to authoritative informa-
t1on, the Japanese representatives
were summoned to the meeting for a
"show down."
Just prior to the session, the Jap
enese delegates conferred with Presi-
dent Wilson They are understood to
lave insisted on their rights to the
valuable concessions in the Shantung
peninsula which they claimed were
supported by a secret treaty with
Great Britain
The president, his associates de-
clared, is prepared to take just as firm
stand as he did In the Italian sit
uation. He is said to have the full
support of the British.
! While there have been rumors OF
tentative arrangement, whereby the
rival claims of China and Japan VIII
4 be deferred until after the treaty
! these have been repeatedly denied.
| According to these reports this prop.
! osition was made by the "big three,
whereupon the Chinese and japanese
delegates referred the matter to their
respective governments.
| AS in the case Of Italy the OASIS
! for Japan's claims is secret treaty
! formulated before the United States
entered the war. The signatorles are
said to have been Japan, Great Britain,
france, Italy and Russia
| By this pact Japan is understood to
have been granted a portion of the
Shantung peninsula, the Chinese port
| Of Kiao Chau, which was seized from
/ the Germans and certain German
| islands in the Pacific.
Wilson'S statement last week which
the Italians blamed directly for their
withdrawal from the peace conference
| has been accepted in certain quarters
90 applyins to all nations whose as
plrations exceed the armistlce terms
and the fourteen points"
The president, however, is SAID tc
i he prepared, if necessary, to issue an
other statement covering the present
situation specifically.
Fail to Reach Agreement.
[By Carl D. Groat, United Press stan
Correspondent
PARIS, April 29.-Japanese dele
gates and the "big three" failed e
/ reach an agreement in the Chlno-Jap
s.nese territorial controversy in thell
J first session today, it was semi-ofnclal
Jy announced. The conference was re
sumed at four p. m.
The Japanese refused to concede
| ANYTHING further than abandoning
their claim to Kiao Chau, reta1nlne
the rich railway concessions In the
shantung peninsula and another port
the identity of which was not revealed
/ Despite any action taken today, i
was learned that final decisions prop
,hly would be postponed until aftel
the treaty with Germany Is signed
The Japanese representatives meet
ing President Wilson prior to the 'plt
three" session are reported 10 nave
laid all their cards on the table, de
manding they be awarded the Shan
itung peninsula They are to nave heit
that Great Britain must support then
ibecause the secret treaty pledges tn
British to recognize Japan's claims
1-hey argued that China's claim q
shantung is selfish and untenable. AM
declared the Chinese would have pee,
willing for Germany to continue holo
ing Kiao Chau.
/ The former German concession
IEiao Chau Is located on the Shantun
peninsula The fact that Shantun
was wresteds from the Germans dul
ing the war does not invalfdate thei
claims they contend.
The president is facing another pi
issue in this question. AS he refuse
to recognize secret treaties, unies
, thew are based on right and justice
he will be compelled to make anothe
momentous decision.