The sun., 1919-08-22
SAYS U. S. HASLOST
VOICE IN FAR EAST
DR.. Ferguson Asserts This
Country Recognized Special
Interests of Japan.
DISPOSED OF CHINA'SFATE
Unfortunate Effects of Lam
sing-Ishii Agreement Told
to Senate Committee.
Special Despatch TO TIE suN.

WARRINGTON, Aug. 81. - That the
United States under the Lansing-1shit
understanding substantially surrendered
the strong position 1t has previously
held regarding the Far East and ac-
cepted a position which represents ac-
ceptance of the Japanese claims was the
conclusion from the testimony to-day Of
DR.. John C. Ferguson, adviser to the
President of China DR.. Ferguson was
again before the Senate Foreign Rela-
lions Committee.
The Root-Takahira agreement was ne
gotiated at the instance OF the United
States. while the later Lansing-Ishii un-
Outstanding was pursuant to the initia-
tive of Japan. DR.. Ferguson said. The
former specifically promulgated the open
door policy and assured equal epportu-
nifty for all nations in China; the latter
recognized a special interest of Japan In
China, which Japan constructs to mean
a special influence. he said.
Japan insisted on the recognition of
this special influence. and though Mr..
Lansing at first opposed 1t that recog-
mtion does appear in the notes repre-
senting the agreement The inference
left by the testimony was that President
Wilson must have been responsible for
overruling Mr. Lansing. but the commit
tee did not press questions to develop
DR.. Fergusons opinion on that point.
DR.. Ferguson rather astonished the
committee by relating that on one occa-
sion a European Power actually re-
turned to China something II had prom
ised to return. This was the Pekin-
Hongkong Railway. owned by Belgian
syndicate and restored to China when
China had met the financial require
ments.
Doesn't the lansing Ishii agreement
leave some question as to what the spe-
cial interest of Japan u.s." asked Sena-
tor Brandegee Comm.
Special Interest Recognized.
ut certainly does" replied DR.. Fer
guson, and that special interest must
be construed with reference to the con-
Germ which Japan at the time regarded
as of greatest Importance to her In
China, namely. Shantung. The Lans-
ingIshii agreement recognizes that
Japan has special interest In China. par
ticularly in the part of China TO which
her possessions in China are contiguous
This gives Japan a special interest in
Manchuria which is contiguous to Corea.
and probably recognizes Japan's claim
to special interest in the province of
Fukien. opposite, the Island of Formosa,
which is owned by Japan"
Secretary Lansing has said that he
suggested to japan that II would be we'll
to reaffirm the open door policy" sug-
gested Senator Swanson (Va). wis
count Ishii replied that he felt Japan
had n special interest in China, though
not a political one. It being based merely
on the propinquity of the two countris."
Tt.AN
replied DR.. Ferguson. but when Ishii
came here on a special mission In con-
nection with these matters and saw Mr..
Lansing. the latter thought that on &C
Count of Japans attitude in Shantung Il
was desirable for Japan to reaffirm her
attitude of non-aggressioD. The Wis
count countered Mr.. Lansing by urging
a statement that Japan had special in
terests. Mr.. Lansing objected to this
but in the final agreement that state
ment was never included. 1 Judge con-
trary to the advice of Mr. Lansing"
Influenced by Wilson.
The committee did not go further with
this line OF questioning and no illumina-
ton was produced as to who insisted on
accepting the Ishii viewpoint and reject
ing the conclusions OF MIR. Lansing. Tine
mittee was that no less person than the
President was responsible for inducing
the Secretary OF State to change his at
titude and accept the Japanese view
point.
But the testimony Of Secretary
Lansing shows that he apparently
| acquiesced in the japanese claim" sug-
gested Senator Moses On HI.
1.-THE Russian Minister at Toxic" sug-
gested Senator johnson, (Calf.), sent
| to his Government a report on the Lam
| sing-Ishii agreement. which was after
| ward made public when the revolution
airy regime disclosed the documents in
| the Russian Foreign Office. In that re-
port the Russian Minister discussed the
| stipulations regarding the special POSI-
| ton and special interest of Japan and
| quoted the Japanese Foreign Minister as
| admitting that there might In the future
| ne G/sa greements as to the interpreta-
| tions OF the Lansing-Ish agreement,
| yet he felt that Japan was left with
| better means to enforce her view of II
| than anybody else would have. What
| are the superior means which Japan
possesses for enforcing her claims in this
| natter"
Japan is nearer to China than any
| other great Power and II is easier for
| her to move ships and troops there
| than 1t would be for the United States,
| replied DIR. Ferguson. IT know no other
| advantages"
| Answering questions by Senator
| Moses. DR.. Ferguson said: THE Chi
| nese had every means and facility for
presenting their case at the Peace Con-
| ference at Paris Unofficial sugges-
lions were, I understood. made to the
Chinese that Il would be inadvisablc for
them TO employ foreign advisers IN con-
Quoting their interests at Paris, II being
| represented that the employment OF for
eign advisers might prejudice their case
in such a complicated situation"
was any other nation placed under
such limitations with regard to thai
matter?" asked Senator Moses.
| mo"
Our failure to consult China regard,
ing the Lansing Ishii agreement" pro-
coded DR. Ferguson, was a direct
contravention of the Root-Takahira
agreement"
The Foreign Relations Committee de-
cided to-day to hear a number of dele
cations that want to appear in behalf
OF various subject peoples Of Europe
Joseph w. Folk, who has made on tht
ground an investigation of present con
dtions in Egypt will appear on Satur
day with his story Later delegations
representing the Greeks. Irish. Egyp
tians. the American Mid-European Asso
citation. Lithuanians. Esthonlans ant
Lettonians. will be heard at the commit
tees convenience. These hearings ar,
being given TO Americanized representa-
tives of the various dissatisfied national
tiles.