The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-15
Sen. Norris Brands Shantung
Agreement as Disgraceful.
Produces Alleged Copies of Dip
lOmatic Correspondence.
SAYS JAPS IN SECRET PLEDGES
Secured Britain's Influence By
Support of Island Claims.
"BOught" France OF by Prom.
ising To Draw China Into War.


Washington July 15.-That Japan
secretly secured pledges from Great
Britain. France. Italy and Russia early
in 1917 that, in the peace settlement,
Shantung peninsula should. for cer-
tain considerations, be turned over to
the Toxic government, was charged in
the senate today by Senator Norris,
Republican, of Nebraska, who pro-
duced what he declared to be comics
of diplomatic correspondence embody-
ing the promises of Great Britain and
| France
! These pledges, he declared, fully ex-
planned the pressure (which resulted
in Standings transfer to Japan under
| the Versailles treaty, whose ratifica-
I ton by the senate. he asserted would
write the blacklist page in the ma
tion's history"
( Swapped Support.
Great Britain's influence, he
| charged, was secured by Japan's
support of British claims to Pacific
islands south of the equator, while
Frances aid was purchased by q
promise of the Toxic government to
help draw China into the war so that
German ships in Chinese harbors
!
ports.
ION the 27th day of March. 1915"
| said senator Norris, the japanese
minister of foreign affairs at Toxic,
approached the British ambassador TO
bring about an agreement with the
| British government. The British min
ister, after receiving instructions from
ms government, wrote the japanese
government as follows
BritaIn's ProDosoI
british embassy. Toxic, Feb. is,
MY dear ExceIiency:
with reference to the subject Of
onr conversation of the 2Tth ulfimo.
HIS britannia majesty's government
sccede with pleasure to request Of the
Japanese government for an assurance
thht they VIII support Japan's claims
In regard to the disposal of Germany's
rights In Shantung and possessions in
the islands north Of the eountnr ON
IL pe bcSg Seasp1 nndee OF tee peace conferences
government VIII In the eventual peace
settlement trent in the same spirit
Great Britain's claims 10 the German
lsiands south OF the equator.
"Conyngham Green
/ His Britannia Majesty's Ambassador
Japan Accepts Offer.
On tho 21st day of February. 1917,
the Japanese government replied as
follows (omitting formal part):
The Japanesese government is deep-
" appreciative OF the friendly spirit
IN which your government has given
assurance take pleasure in stating
that the Japanese government on It's
same spirit the claims wbfch fpin man an 'he ne
| put forward Mt the peace conference
IN regard to the German possessions
In the Islands south Of the equator
while the Japanese government,
was waiting for a reply from the Brit
ism government 1t proceeded also TO
, negotiate with the other allied govern
ments Its message to the French
ambassador at Toxic, was signed nv
: the japanese foreign minister and was
. as follows:
Then Bid French Aid.
The imperial Japanese government
| proposes 10 dennnd from Germany the
surrender OF the territorial rights and
, special interests Germany possessed
! before the war in Shantung asd the
ISLANDS north Of the equator in the
The imperial Japanese government
) .sonilnently hopes the government Of
the French republic will give assurance
, that her case being proved Japan NAV
) count upon Its fun support in this
1T goes without saying that repnrs-
) ton for damages caused to the life nnd
pr2pefty oI the japanese people. by the
well ms other conditions OF peace ~
{ character common to all the entente
, powersi are entirely outside the con-
: sdcrntion or the present situation
France in Counter Request.
vi "A few days later the French am.
/ bassador replied to the japanese for.
eign office as follows:
THE government Of the French re-
. public II disposed to give the japanese
! government its accord in regulating
I questions vital to Japan concerning
e Shantung and the German islands in
= the Pacific north Of the equator Tt
4 also agrees to support the demands
4 OF the Imperial Japanese government
. for the surrender of the rights Ger
many possessed before the war in this
Chinese province and these islands
M. Brihnd demands. on the other
hand. that Janan give its support to
obtain from China the breaking of its
diplomatic relations with Germany and
n that It give this act desirable signifi-
cance. The consequences Of this in
China ehould be the following:
= First handing passports to the Ger
/, / man diplomatic agents and consnlr.
> Second. the obligations Of all under
German Jurisdiction to leave Chinese
is territory.
o Third. the internment Of German
) ships In Chinese ports md the ultimate
-. place them ut the disposition n the
u allies following the example of Italy
{. and Portugal.
d Fourth. requisitiOn NJ German ROM
- mercia houses established In China.
- forfeiting the right of Germany IN the
concessions she- possesses In certain
parts Of China.
- Carve Up Allies Land
''The foreign minister of Japan
promised compliance with the request
In icontinned ~ Page Two1
To Intcrnat tIonal Joint Commlss' on.