Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-11
THREATENS
TO WAR ON CHINA
CONTINUED from First Page.l

controversy by the French newspa-
pers.
To meet doubts case upon its au-
thority, the Chinese delegation has
published cablegrams received from
Shanghai, the provisional legislature
of Shantung and the Chinese So
ciety for a league of nations at Pc
king. These cablegrams overwhelm-
ingly favor the activities of the dele
CATION and direct that there be re-
striction to China or properties in
Shantung.
Washington, Feb. 11.-Japans at
titude toward China in the peace
conference is causing grave appre-
hension among the representatives
OF the other associated powers Ac-
cording to official diplomatic in
formation reaching here, Japan vir-
tually has threatened war if China
makes public secret treaties between
the two countries and fails to carry
out an agreement to make Japan the
successor of Germany in rights,
property and concessions held by
Germany at the outbreak of the
European war.
China Relies on Paris
China is relying on the peace con-
ference here her delegates are said
to have made an excellent impress
sion. and is seeking support from
the United States and Great Britain
Europe Demands Attention
Advices from the Orient through
diplomatic channels say American
Minister Reinsch. at Peking, seelling q
to reassure the Chinese foreign mir
lister with statements OF the friend
ship of the United States Govern
ment, was told frankly that the fcr-
eign minister did not see how at this
time the United States or Great
Britain could divert their attention
to the Orient, wn IN the European sit
uation demanded so much attention,
Say Treaties Were stolen
When the Chinese peace delegates
arrived in Paris. the Information now
available discloses, lhey reported
that the copies of the secret treaties
were stolen from their baggage while
they were passing through Japan, and
consequently, they were unable to
carry out their purpose of milking
them public at the conference
Officials of the State Department
declined to make any formal COM
ment to-day on the situation. The
impression was given that the whole
matter was being handled in Paris.
According to the reports received
here, the threats against China were
conveyed to the Chinese foreign
minister by the Japanese minister i'm
Picking I'm thinly veilcd terms. The
Japanese minister is said to have
pointed out that Japan had an army
of more than a million men idle M
home, fully equipped and with arms
and munitions enough to conduct a
long war, an dto have pointed out
that Japan had more than q half
million tons of shipping, with tho
intimation that this would be ready
on short notice for active work. He
also is said to have referred point
edly 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.
Chinese Reveal Treaties
Upon arriving in Paris without
the copies of the treaties which they
had been instructed to use in seeking
to break Japan's grip, the Chinese
delegates made verbal reports of the
substance of these treaties 10 some
of the peace delegates of the other
countries. This led the Japanese
authorities to demand of China that
she disavow this action on the part
of her delegates and that she keep
secret the treaties
Japan Brings Pressure
Some of the secret treaties have
not yet been ratified by the Chinese
government. although Japan has
ratified them and. according to to-
days advices, the Japanese govern
&c, tsV tr.e ris.ar
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. 1915. which grants
Shantung to Japan and admits Japan
as the successor to Germany's tights,
concessions and properties in the
Shantung district.