The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-15
CHARGES JAPAN
ACTED SECRETLY
Senator Norris Declares Toxic
Secured Promises Of Four
Big Nations.
FOR TRANSFER SHANTUNG
Nebraska Republican Tells of
Bargaining in 1917 for
Certain Considerations"

Washington, July ia charge
that Japan secretly secured pledges
from Great Britain, France, Italy and
Russia early in 1917 that in the peace
settlement Shantung peninsula
should for certain considerations, be
turned over to the Toxic government,
was made in the senate today by
Senator Norris, republican, of Ne
braska, who. produced what he de-
clerad to be copies of diplomatic cor
respondence embodying the promises
of Great Britain and France. These
pledges, the Nebraska senator de-
clared, fully explained the pressure
which resulted in Standings trans
fer to Japan under the Versailles
treaty, whose ratification by the sem
ate, he asserted, would write "the
blacklist page in the nations his
tory
Great Britain's influence in the
matter, he charged was secured by
Japan's support of British claims to
Pacific islands south of the equator,
while Frances aid was purchased
by a promise of the Toxic govern
ment to help draw China into the
war so that German ships in Chi
HpSt Hal DOlS NOulu ''S tNoi''piN W.
carrying troops and provisions to
France.
Toxic Approached British.
"On the 9th day of March, 1916"
said Senator Norris, "the japanese
minister of foreign affairs at Toxic
approached the British ambassador
located at that place with a view of
bringing about an agreement with
the British government. The Brit
ish minister cabled to his govern
ment at London, and after receiving
instructions from his government,
wrote the Japanese government as
follows:
"British Embassy, Toxic
"'Feb. 16, 1917.
'My Dear Excellency-With refer
ence to the subject of our conversa-
ton of the 9th ultimo, =, his
Britannia majesty's government &C
cede with pleasure to request of the
japanese government for an assur-
ance that they will support Japan's
claims in regard to the disposal of
Germanys rights in Shantung and
possessions in the islands north of
the equator on the occasion of the
peace conference; 1t being under
stood that the Japanese government
will in the eventual peace settlement
treat in the same spirit Great Brit
AIMS claims to the German islands
south of the equator.
IT avail myself of this opportunity
NJ. lie Ministre, to renew to your eX-
cellency the assurance of my highest
consideration.
. "CONYNGHAM GREENE,
His Britannia Majesty's Ambassa-
DOR
"On the 21st day of February, 1917,
the Japanese government replied to
this communication of the British
government as follows (omitting for
NAL part):
"'The japanese government Is
deeply apprecative of the friendly
spirit in which your government has
given assurance and happy to note
it as fresh proof of the close ties
that unite the two allied powers.
take pleasure in stating that the
Japanese government on its part is
fully prepared to support in the same
spirit the claims which may be put
forward at the peace conference in
regard to the German possessions in
the islands south of the EQUATOR
Message to French.
while the Japanese government was
waiting for a reply from the British
government. it proceeded also to ne
gotate with the other allied govern
ments. It's message to the French am
bassador at Toxic was signed by the
Japanese foreign minister, and was as
follows:
1.-The imperial japanese government
. proposes to demand from Ger
many at the time of the peace ncgo-
tiations the surrender of the territorial
rights and special interests Germany
possessed before the war in Shantung
and the islands situated north of the
equator IN the Pacific ocean.
The imperial Japanese government
hopes the government OF
the French republic, realizing the legti-
macy of these demands will give as
surance that her case being proved.
Japan may count upon its full support
on this question.
1T goes without saying that repa-
ration for damages caused to the life
and property of the japanese people
by the unjustiiable attacks of the en-
envy as we'll as other conditions OF
peace. of a character common to all
the entente powers, are entirely outside
the consideration of the present ques-
tion.
"a few days later the French ambas
sador replied to the japanese foreign
office, as follows:
{" The government of the French re-
public is disposed to give the japanese
government its accord in regulating at
the time of the peace negotiations
questions vital to Japan concerning
Shantung and the German islands in
the Pacific north of the equator. II
also agreed to support the demands OF