Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-14
JAPAN NOT READY
OREVEALPACTS
Toxic Has Asked China's
Consent" to Publication,
Delegation Says
BALKS AT COLONY PLAN
Proud of South Sea Achieve
menls. Wants to Spread
& Its Culture There
By the Associated Press

4 Paris. Feb. 1.-THE Havas Agency
says it has been informed by the
Japanese delegation to the Peace Con-
ference that the announcement that
Baron Maxine, senior Japanese dele
gate. had received an order 10 publish
pertain agreements concluded between
China and Japan is premature. Con-
formably to diplomatic usages, says the
delegation, Japan has asked China's
consent TO the publication OF these
agreements. but the Pekin Government
has not yet forwarded It's reply.
The japanese delegation insists IL is
not question of secret treaties. of
which none has ever been concluded he
tween the two countries, but simply OF
"accords.'
Pressure Again Denied
The Havas Agency also makes public
the following:
8 Niscount Chinda. Japanese ambassa-
dor to Great Britain, again affirms cate
gorically that allegations contained in
y dispatch from Pekin. dated February
y. and published in London February ~.
are absolutely withou. foundation. Wis.,
count Chinda says no pressure has been
brought to bear upon the Chinese Gov
ernmcnt at Pekin nor by the military
party. Japan, he says, has not Concluded
secret treaties with China, and he mas
every reason to believe the President of
China is in complete accord with tbe
Toxic Government"
4 Japan has not yet agreed to the ma,
for making her a mandatory for the
Caroline and Marshall Islands. While
the other Powers have virtually agreed
to the mandatory principle and are will.
ing to accept direction of the German
colonies, Japan desires a more complete
definition Of the plan under which the
two groups of Pacific islands will be en-
trusted to her. and a more complete
description of the kind OF international
control and supervision which will obtain
under the society of nations.
member of the japanese delegation
said the Japanese have great pride In
their achievements in the Pacific. and
feel that as n reward for their military
and naval activity they should be per-
mitted to extend their culture and CIV
ilization to the two groups of islands,
/, which are, inhabited by undeveloped
peoples.
If the society OF nations desires stand
Iardization and unifcation of develop.
fnent of the captured German colonies
which would prevent Japan from giving
!, Il distinctly Japanese character to the
Marshall and Caroline Islands, the plan
would not be acceptable to Japan. as it
wo,nd hurt the national pride of her
people, the delegate said.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE japanese
Government regards as absolutely es-
sential" the treaties and agreements
signed by Japan and China in Pekir
May 20, 1915. relating to the settlement
of the Shantung question and defining
Japan's position in south Manchuria ant
eastern inner Mongolia. The japanese
Government. according to the best avail.
able opinion here. will not permit its
peace delegation at Paris to discuss these
arrangements at the Peace Conference
as Japan considers they concern only
herself and China.
In order to present the Japanese
view concerning the Importance which
the Japanese Government attaches tc
the series of treaties and agreements
of 1915, all of which have been made
public. the instructions given by Baror
Kato. then Foreign Minister, to the
then Japanese minister to China, Mr.
Hioki, on December 3, 1914, have beer
made public here. They say in part:
I'm order to provide for the read.
iustment Of affairs consequent on the
Iapan-German war and for the pur
pose of. insuring a lasting peace in
the Far East by strengthening the
position Of the empire, the Imperial
Government has resolved to approach
the Chinese Government with a view
10 conclude treaties and agreements
mainly along the lines laid down in
the first four groups Of the proposals"
japan, having determined to attain
the ends set forth in the five groups
except the fifth. which was withdrawn
by all means within her power" will
not consider, according to information
obtained here. any proposal for their
review or revision.