Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-11
Trying to Force China to
Keep Agreement Forced
Thru Duress.
CHINA READY TO
APPEAL TO POWERS
League Of Nations May Find Itself
With Immsnss Task Of Preserving
Psaee Almost Before Il 10 Organized
Japan Would Dominate Shantung
Province, Wrestsd From Germany
Dut Belonging to Chinese Republic.
tBy the Associated Press.]

Paris, Feb. 11.-Japan has reiter-
atcd her intention to hold heIMarshall
and Caroline islands IN the Pacific,
which she took from Germany dur
ing the war, us well as to insist on the
execution Of her agreement reached in
September last with China, regarding
Shantung.
A formal statement to this effect by
Japanese representatives has been made
public.
1t is not considered that the Chino
Japanese controversy or Japan's
claims regarding the Pacific islands
arc likely to delay the society Of ma
tions project. It seems probable, how
ever that these matters will be consid-
cred later by that organization.
Considerable space Is being given
the Chino-JapaGese controversy by
the French newspapers.
To meet doubts cast upon its au-
thority. the Chinese delegation has
published cableGrams received from
Shanghai, the provincial legislature q
s6hantuns, and the Chinese society for
i leasue ok nations 1T PekinE. These
cablegrams overwhelmingly favor tho
activities OF the delegation and direct
that there be restitution to China OF
properties In Shantung.
U. S. View Opposes Plans.
As regards the Pacific islands claims
yof japan, the American position at the
peace conference has been unofficially
represented as one Of opposition TO an
nexations and Of insistence upon the
internationalization Of all the Pacinc
islands taken from Germany. the
aMarshall and Caroline groups lie d.
rectly east of the Philippines.
The Chino-Japanese controversy
centers upon the claims regarding
Shantung province, where Japan mas
taken over the German holdings pased
upon the old Tsingtao concession. I'm
der the treaty Of 1915 between Japan
and China, which the latter claims
was signed under duress, Japan was 10
return to China after the war all the
former German holdings except that
Japanese settlement was to be permit
ted at Tsingsao or that TINS port
which virtually gives command to the
entire province Of Shantung should De
s,nternationali1ed if the peace confer
snce should 80 decide.
paris advices have indicated that
ia pan was pressing for continued pos
session .of Tsingtao, which the Chinese
delegates to the peace conference IN
sist should be returned to China with
ont restrictions. Dispatches from
china have announced that Japan had
demanded that China disavow the ac-
tivities OF her delegates in Paris and
that she must work. In harmony with
Japan at the peace conference. Japan
was bringing financial pressure te
bear to secure such action, 1t was said
The chinese ministry was represented
as fearing it would have to comply
through necessity. with Japan's de-
mands.
The agreement Of September last,
mentioned in the dispatch, probably
refers to the agreement made by Japan
to loan China twenty million yen on
the account Of Shantung railway con-
struction. China has never ratified
that agreement, 1t appears, although
funds were advanced by japan under