The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-25
JAPAN LIBERALS
OPPOSE CLAIMS
UPON SHANTUNC
Quiet Struggle Between Two
Elements - Cabinet Up-
holds Military.
(By Associated Press)

TOXIC, Aug. 25.-It is reported that
at its meeting yesterday the imperial
cabinet, upholding the opinions ad-
vanced by the military element in the
government, decided to insist upon
the exclusion of Manchuria and Mon
golia, from the consortium by which
the United States, Great Britain,
France and Japan will assume a dom
inant position in the finances of China.
1t Is said that negotiations win be re-
sumed with the powers on that basis.
The Asahi Shimbun says that Wis
count uchida, foreign minister, spoke
In favor of Japan's unconditional en-
trance into the consortium explaining
that If Manchuria and Mongolia were
excluded from the scope of the agree
ing Japanese designs upon China and
might obstruct loans which are ur-
gently needed by China. He is report
such an impression would be inimical
to the interests of Japan and might
place the nation in a position of COM
plete isolation, adding that on the con-
trary, Japan's unconditional adher-
ance would remove suspicious on the
part of China and the powers con-
corning Japan's supposed aggressive
ness as a result OF the acquisition Of
important interests.
1t is understood that leading bank
ers now are urging the acceptance of
the American proposal, but the mill
tary groups fear to jeopardize special
political interests in Manchuria and
Mongolia
Struggle Over China
A quiet but determined struggle now
is under way in Japan between the
military and reactionary forces of the
empire and the Liberals over the gen.
eral question of China. The bureau
Gratis insist that Japan should retain
all the special preferential rights she
has hitherto gained in China, and op-
pose concessions urged by groups
which seek to calm world opinion con-
cerning Japan's alleged aggressive
ness.
The diplomatic advisory council yes
terday discussed the Shantung and
consortium questions. According to
the newspapers several members crit
icized the foreign policy for undertak-
ing to abandon an exclusive Japanese
settlement of the Shantung matter
without consulting the council, which
is supposed to advise the government
IN SuCn matters.
According to the Asahi Shimbun,
Major Tanaka. minister of war, advo-
Gated the exclusion OF Manchur1a and
Mongolia from the consortium, even II
that step meant that Japan should not
join the loan group, consisting Of the
United States, Great Britain and
France, besides this country He is
said to have declared it was necessary
to guard Japanese preferential rights
and her privilege Of economic emigra-
tion for military reasons, including
national defense.
Another member is reported to have
ironically remarked that if Japan con-
tinued making concessions to other
powers she would eventually be oblig-
ed to abandon even Korea"
Considerable attention is paid to
the press to the popularity of Admiral
Baron Minoru Saito, the new govern
or Of Korea, and his liberalism also
is given special prominence, but re-
grets are expressed that civilian was
not appointed governor, as the dis
turbances in Korea were due to mil
itary rule. At best the appointment
of Admiral Saito is regarded as a
compromise and confidence is express
ed that he will inaugurate extensive
reforms.