The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-01
Shantung Disclosure an Awful
Blow to Pekin Delegates at
Peace Conference.
PLACED FAITH IN WILSON
Kung Hsiang-ko Tells How
the Japanese Diplomats
Fooled Him in Paris.
BIZ the Associated Prss,.

By the Associated Frese.
KuFow, Province of shantung, China,
Sept. Correspondence. - Kung Hsl-
ang-ko, who traces his descent in a d.
rect line through seventy-four genera
tons from Confucius, has returned to his
home here from his labors at the Paris
Peace Conference. to which he was sent
by the Shantung Provincial Assembly as
a special delegate representing the prov
ince.
Kufow, in the far centre OF Shantung.
noted because the tomb of Confucius Is
here, has felt probably more keenly than
any other centre in China the grief that
the Shantung decision of the Peace Con-
ference gave to the nation. for IL Shan
tung is the birthplace OF the Chinese ma
zion and the place from which came
many of the sacred and historic tradi-
tons of the people, then the little city
OF Kufow, in which the great Chinese
sage lived and from which he gave TO
the world his immortal code. Is the very
heart of the province.
Kung Hsiang-ko, with other Chinese
delegates to Paris. arrived at Shanghai
a few days ago. After a short stay
there he came on to his home to pre-
pare for the Provincial Assembly the for
NAL report of China's activities at the
Poace Conference. On his return he
told friends the story Of the diplomatic
experience at Paris and explained the
causes that led to the refusal to sign
the treaty with Germany.
After telling of the efforts of DR..
wellington KoU and DR.. c. T. Wang TO
combat the pro-Japanese campaign which
=, N Wa n 6aleRHteg
At every turn he said he believed one of
the important reasons why China was
defeated was because the Fiume question
had had precedence at the conference.
Wilson at First for Chinese.
president Wilson was fully deter
grined to support the Chinese cause"
Mr. Kung declared. 80 il the Shantung
question had been brought up first II
would perhaps have been disposed OF
TO the satisfaction of the Chinese"
The blow under which the Chinese
delegates were crushed. however. the
shantung delegate said, was the dis
closure Of the Toxic treaty, OF which
they had never heard until the Japanese
produced II at the conference.
While much had been published con-
corning the twenty-one demands OF
Japan and it has been known that In
these China surrendered the rights or
the Germans In the province OF shan
tung, little light has been thrown on this
secret agreement. called the Toxic treaty,
even since the conference. This Toxic
treaty, however. Mr.. Kung explained.
was concluded with Japan by the former
Chinese Minister to Toxic. Chang
Chung-hsiang, one of the Officials
against whom the wrath Of the students
was turned in June when the Minister
with the Cabinet then IN office. was de-
posed. 1t was with the power OF
plenipotentiary thar Chang Chung
hsiang acted when he concluded this
treaty. BY its terms the German hold
3ngs In Shantung. and in particular the
railway concessions. were given TO
Japan. When DIR. Koo and DR. Wang,
protesting against the twenty-one de-
,aands, contended that they had been
signed under threat of war the japanese
produced the Toxic treaty, of the exist
ence of which they were ignorant.
when this treaty was produced,
Tr. Kune said; sit closed the mouths
OF all of China's delegates. and none OF
fhem knew exactly what to do.
when the Chinese delegates learned
that the decision on Shantung had been
Seached," he went on, "all the smaller
nations protested and the Chinese took
vigorous action. At conference
delegate asked who had made the de-
cision Speaking for the Big Five. M.
Clemenceau answered, We did It
When he was asked how the Big Five
could decide a question like that he re-
piled. saying, we have suffered more
than others.
Wilson Expressed His Sorrow.
I'VE trusted Mr.. Wilson entirely toe
snuch. We sent note to President
Wilson asking him how he could recon
Gle assurances he had given TO China
before she had entered the war with the
decision. He sent a representative to
rs expressing his sorrow and he sug-
gested that ne would help us when the
League of Nations was formed.
when the conference was concluded
the Chinese divided on the question
whether to- sign the treaty with Ger
many. It was the students and Chinese
statesmen In Paris who swayed those
who were disposed to sign.
ION the morning of the day set fol
the signing of the treaty, after China
had been refused the right OF signing
with reservations. crowds of students
patrolled in front Of the hotel OF Ii
Chen-hsiang, our chief delegate, who
lad been SUFFERING III health and wal
again confined to his bed. The question
Of signing had not been decided wheI
the delegates gathered in his room. HI
was asked for the last time II he would
consent to sign and he replied witt
sears streaming from his eyes:
~ signed the twenty-one demands
Can I, must /. also sign thisT 1t wal
the only answer he gave and the dele
gates understood. That Ii why wheI
the conference was called to order thu
seats Of the Chinese were vacant