The Washington herald., 1919-08-07
President Interprets Japan
ese Statement on Sur
render of Shantung.
TOXIC VERSION is HERE
1t Makes Reference to Ne
gotiations of Four Years
Ago With China.

President Wilson late yesterday is
sued a statement in which he calls
attention of Japan to the fact that
this government does not recognize
that negotiations between China ana
Japan in 1915 affect in any way the
surrender of the Shantung peninsula.
This followed a statement from
Baron Uchida, japanese minister OF
foreign affairs. made public through
the Embassy here. which intimates
surrender Of the Chinese province Will
hinge to some extent on prior Japan
ese-Chinese negotiations.
The President is to throw a fuller
light of cIarifcation upon a situation
watch ought to be relieved of every
shadow of obscurity or apprehension
Japan says she is willing to sur
render Shantung to China as soon as
possible after the peace treaty is rati-
fed by Japan. and that she has no
intention of claiming or retaining any
rights which affect the territorial
sovereignty of China in the peninsula
Japan says this will be done ''abid-
Ing faithfully by the pledge she gave
to China in 19l5''-the year the ia
nous twenty-one demands were pre-
Bented-
1t is here. say diplomats. that the
President moves to clear any possible
misunderstanding.
He makes il clear that 1915 negotia-
lions or agreements do not enter into
the question. and that no reference
vas made to them in peace treaty ne
gOtiations by which Japan obtained
title to the peninsula.
He also points out that it is the un-
5eTstandinS of the United States that
only economic privileges are to be re-
tanned.
70 lie says nothing he said must be
construed as acquiescence on his part
to the policy contained in notes ex-
changed by Japan and China in 1915
and 1918.
This is the text of the Presidents
statement.
The Presidents Statement.
The Government of the United
States has noted with the greatest
interest the frank statement made
by VisCOunt TChida with regard
to Japans future policy respecting
Shantung. The statement ought
to serve to remove many of the
misunderstanding which had be-
gun to accumulate about this ques-
ton. But there are references in
the statement to an agreement en-
tered into between Japan and
China in 1915 which might be mis-
leading. if not commented upon in
the light of what occurred in Paris
when the causes of the treaty
affecting Shantung were under
discussion. therefore take the
liberty Of supplementing Viscount
TChida's statement with the fol-
lowing:
In the conference of the
thirtieth of April last, where
this matter was brought to
conclusion among the heads of
the principal allied and assO-
ciated powers, the japanese
delegates. Baron Maxine and
Viscount Chinda. in reply to
question put by myself, de-
cIared that:
The policy Of Japan is to
hand back the Shantung PENN
suIa in full sovereignty to
China, retaining only the eco
nOmic privileges granted to
Germany. and the right to es-
tsblish a settlement under the
usual conditions at Tsingtao.
The owners of the railway
will use special police only to
insure security for traffic. They
will be used for no other pur-
pose.
The police forces will he com
rosed Of Chinese, and such Japan
ese instructors as the directors of
the railway may select will be ap-
pointed by the Chinese government
NO reference was made to this
poIicy being in any way dependent
unon the execution Of the agree
r,1ent of 1915 to which Count Uchida
appears to have referred.
Indeed. I felt it my duty to say
that nothing that l agreed to must
he construed as an acquiescence on
the part Of the government OF the
T-nite5 states in the policy of the
notes exchanged between China and
Japan in 1915 and 1918. and refer
apce was made i'm the discussion
20 the enforcement of the agree
r,,ents Of 1915 and 1918 only in case
chin, failed to cooperate fully in
carving out the policy outlined in
the statement Of Baron Maxine
and Viscount Chinda.
Il have, Of course, no doubt that
ViscOunt UChida had been apprised
of all the particulars of the dis
custom in Paris. and l am not
making this statement with the
idea Of correcting his, but only to
throw a fuller light of Qualification
,,Dor situation which ought to
he relieved Of every shadow OF
obsrurity or misapprehension.