Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-12
JAPANESE MINISTER DECLARES
HIS COUNTRY HAS HUGE ARMY
FULLY EQUIPPED AND LYING IDLE
Copies of Treaties Are Stolen
From Chinese Peace ENJOYS
While Passing Through
Japan on Way to Paris.
JAPS DEMAND THAT
ACTION BE DlSAV0WED
Some OF Treaties Not Yet Rat
flied by China, but Japan Is
Bringing Great Pressure to
Bear.

NY MORNING JouRNAL SPECIAL LEASED wiarl
Washington, Feb. II (by the Asso-
ciated Press) .--Japan's attitude to-
ward China in the peace conference
is causing grave apprehension among
the representatives of the other asso-
ciated powers. According to official
diplomatic information reaching here,
Japan virtually has threatened war
if China makes public secret treaties
between the two countries and fails
to carry out an agreement to make
Japan the successor of Germany in
rights, property and concessions held
by Germany at the outbreak of the
European war
China is relying on the peace con-
ference, where her delegates are said
to have made an excellent impression,
and is seeking support from the Uni
ted States and Great Britain.
Advices from the orient through
diplomatic channels say American
Minister Reinsch at Pekng. seeking
to reassure the Chinese foreign minis
ter with statements of the friendship
of the United States government. was
told frankly that the foreign minister
did not see how at this time the Uni
ted States or Great Britain could di-
vert their attention to the orient when
the European situation demanded so
much attention
Treaty Copies Stolen.
When the Chinese peace delegates
arrived N Paris the information now
available dlscloses. they reported that
their copies of the secret treaties were
stolen from their baggage while they
were passing through Japan, and con-
sequently they were unable to carry
out their purpose of making them
public at the conference.
According to the report received
here, the threats against China were
conveyed to the Chinese foreign min
lister by the Japan minister in Peking
in thinly yelled terms. ile Japanese
minister is said to have pointed out
that japan had an army of more than
II million men idle at home. fully
and with arms and munition
enough TO conduct a long war, and
to have pointed out that Japan had
more than half million tons of ship
ping with the intimaton that this
would be ready on short notice for
active work. He also IS said to have
referred pointedly to large sums of
money owed to japan by China, and
to the fact that China had been un-
able to live up to her financial agree
ments.
made Verbal Report.
Upon arriving in Paris without the
copies of the treaties which they had
been instructed to use in seeking to
break Japans grip, the Chinese dele
gates made verbal reports of the
substance of these treaties to some
Of the peace delegates of the other
countries. This led the Japanese ali-
IN Of
she disavow this action on the part
IF her delegates and that she keep
secret the treaties,
Some of the secret treaties have
not yet been ratified by the Chinese
government, although Japan has
ratified them aud according to to-
lays advtces, the japanese govern
nent Is bringing every pressure to
bear on China to ratify them before
anything can be done at Paris. The
most important of the treaties as yet
inratified by China is the agreement
IF September "a, 1918. which grants
Shantung to Japan and admits Japan
rs the successor of Germanys rights,
concessions and properties in the
Shantung district. This includes
mines and other valuable
property and the rights to them for
he Chinese claim. Japan already has
possession under treaties and agree
nents of two-fifths of the iron ore
deposits of the entire Chinese repub-
ic and is seeking possession of the
,ther three-fifths.
Pressure Unbearabic.
Although they so far have been
Lble to resist the japanese demands,
he Chinese officials now say that the
PRESSURE is becoming unbearable. The
thinese president has approved by
able the action of the Chinese dele
rates in Paris in announcing their
Willingness to make public the
reaties in spite of Japanese pres
ure-
China has asked, depending upon
he impression made upon the accred-
ted delegates from other countries.
hat the peace conference see the
wenty-one demands made upon
china in 1915 be revoked, and that
chinese republic ba removed definite
y from the influence of Japan. The
complete Independence of China is
sked under the protection of the
eague of nations,
The account Of Minister Reinsch's
'isit to the Peking FOREIGN office says
ae reaffirmed the friendship of the
'nited States for China and desired
o give active support in her desire
or independence. He learned. how
,ver, that the Japanese minister in
'elStng reached the foreign minister
/ few minutes before Kim and con-
eyed the intimationS of what would