Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-28
.JAPANS RETURNING
ENVOY TO EXPLAIN
Indulgence Of Public Neces-
sary as to Shantung Until
Policy Can Be Announced.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Japan is not yet, ready to make a
public statement of her intention with
respect to the return of Kiaochow. but
will do so in due course. This does
not mean that eventually the whole
Shantung question will NOT be cleared
up in way satisfactory to American
public opinion and appease the oppo-
sition in the American Senate, but for
and patience. The Japanese delega-
ton at Versailles has not yet returned
to Toxic. Certainly no detailed nego-
t1ationss can be carried on until Mar
quis Saionji returns, though q brief
public statement Of policy may Of
course be made before he gets back to
Japan.
Japan's diplomatic representative
here, charge daffaires Debuchi. went
to the Department of State today.
Neither he nor officials at the depart
ment would make a statement. But 1t
is the second'visit of the charge DAFT
flares in five days. He was invited
there first on the return of Secretary
Lansing, who at the instance of Presi-
dent Wilson laid before Mr.. Debushi
in very tactful way the embarrass-
ments that had arisen in the American
Senate with reference to the Shan
tung provision of the peace treaty.
Though Mr.. Lansing said nothing aft
erward, senators on Capitol Hill gave
reporters the impression that Mr..
Wilson was hoping for direct stat
ment from Japan and had virtually
asked for one.
No Public Statement Threat.
What is. however. incorrect, is the
inference that Mr.. Wilson threatened
to make a, public statement IL Japan
did not do 40. This published story u
resented by friends OF, Japan on the
ground that public opinion in Japan
would not take enthusiastically to
what 1t might thus construe as coer-
cion. Indeed, there is reason to be-
lieve that the impression grew mere
ly out of the idea, that the way out
two distinct methods-either q state
ment by Japan of her intention to
return Kiachow on a fixed date or
else permission from Japan enabling
President Wilson to make public
documents in his possession relating
to the return of the leased territory
to China. It is inconceivable that Mr..
Wilson adopted any threatening at
titude in the midst of friendly ne
gotiation, and friends Of the President
feeling that way.
On the other hand, the second visit
by the Japanese charge d'affaires car
ries the inference that he has re-
ceived some word from his govern
ment in answer to the inquiries made
would seem, therefore, to be this:
Unfamiliar With Paris Happenings
The head of the Japanese delega-
ton made certain statements to Presi-
dent Wilson at Paris. both orally and
in writing; The Toxic ministry.
which 10 already under fire by the
Kato, for its attitude, in the peace
conference. does not feel itself en-
tirely familiar with whatA happened
at Paris. Marquis Saionitf left Lon
don a few days ago. via the Mediter-
within a month. Until the japanese
government knows all the assurances
and commitments made by it's dele
cation it doesn't want to make any
public statement, but may, OF course,
find it desirable to make some pro-
cables between Paris and Toxic have
been working badly. It is known
that the congestion on the Pacific
cables has amounted at times to q
delay of seven days. Japan doesn't
wish in any way to seem to be
sighting American public opinion.
The dangers of the present contro-
versy, particularly its after effects.
on the relations between the United
States and Japan, have been carefully
reported to the Japanese government.
But the Japanese government feels
Just as President Wilson himself, in
his letter to Senator Lodge, asked for
the indulgence of the Senate until he
could get from Paris certain papers
needed to answer the questions asked
in Senate resolutions SO Japan would
like the Indulgence of the American
people until her premier and foreign
minister can, have a talk with the
Japanese delegates now en- route
home.
Refusal to Sign Peace Treaty.
But there is still another circum-
stance which is of the utmost impor-
lance, and which bears directly on the
formula by which the controversy may
be settled. It is China's persistent re-
fusal to sign the peace treaty. Until
China definitely attaches her sigma.
ture or publicly expresses her inten-
ton to do so. Japan does not feel that
her neighbor will be committed to the
ceSSiOn OF those economic r1&ntS 10
Japan which are to accompany the
agreement returning Kiach6w to
China
In other words, China, in the opin-
ion of the Japanese. ought to express
her desire to negotiate for the return
of Kiachow. At the same time she
should sign the peace treaty itself.
There always has been good deal of
diplomatic jockeying and bargaining
between Japan and China in the past,
and for Japan to promise outright
that she would restore Kiachow on a
certain date might, it Is feared by
Japanese, cause China to become in
different to the Japanese claims on
economic questions. Japan considers
that in effect she would be playing
her trump card-the date for the re-
turn of Kiachow-without getting in
return even an assurance of China's
n. tention to sign the peace treaty.
So, the Shantung controversy, unless
President Wilson makes some unex-
pected move in the situation. would
seem to some extent to be dependent
mon the return of the Japanese mis-
sion to Toxic and some definite ex-
preston from China in the interim
concerning her signature to the peace
treaty. u
tcenyrisht. 1891