Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-06
JAPAN RE|TERATES !.
PLEDGE TO RETURN
SHANTUNG REGION
China's Every Economic and
Sovereign Right Will Be
Protected, Says Uchida.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
Viscount Uchida, the Japanese for
eign minister, has given to the world
Japan's reiterated pledge that Chinese
rights will not suffer in Shantung.
Definite return of the province to
China and the protection of China's
every economic and sovereign right
Is the pledge which the government
at Toxic makes in answer to those
who have sought to assail the pur-
poses of Japan and belittle her
pledges. r.. s.,,
The actual text of Viscount Uchida's
statement will be given to the pub
lie within twenty-four hours. The
contents are known in Washington.
Only cable difficulties have prevented
earlier announcement by the Japanese
embassy in Washington.
Pledges Of Japan.
The things Japan definitely pledges
to do in regard to Shantung are:
Refusal to claim any rights preju-
dicial to the sovereignty Of China.
Immediately upon Japan's ratifca-
will come in the signature Of the en-
peror, Japan will begin the transac-
ton Of restoring the one-time Ger
manized province to the Jurisdiction
Of China. -. ~.
from the province will begin. Japan
WIN keep no military force within the
province. .t
The Tsingtau-Tsinan railway will be
operated under, the Joint control OF
Japan and China. Japan at no time,
unfairly dominate the Chinese In
methods of operation. The Japanese
statement sets forth that there will
be no determinations of any chafac-
ter to any people in the future opera
tion Of this line.
In connection with Tsingtau. the
japanese forego their treaty right OF
an, exclusive Japanese
settlement. suggesting that such set
tlement be internatiQnal IN character.
8 3 q & ! & 9. vs. Y 81 ~ ~
Japan .rssesyss csTtst e. ssoasza. Is
Siss5af assl p 'asI I}ss
m .a6ifH 81 1ef fsr N IA ni8dFs Tori
tukh ahaiftung, KiAchow and Tgin6 tau
tS ( China i with hfll 6uAtAnteeg %
Chinass sovereign ssfads 4ocoudntc
rights.
ofacials Here Pleased.
Many American onicials., ON siearn-
ing Of Tokio's. announcement, feef that
-itsin every sense fu1fills Japafi's prom
fses in regard TO Shantung; that 1t
even, goes further than Japan would
be forced to go through strict inter.
ptetatioh Of treaties existent with
China. It ID regarded a. definite COM
fnitment OF Japan to the things which
have been urged upon her through
the United states government and,
others. It has been felt in washing,
ton that this should be Japan's course.
in further establishing herself against
the assaults which have been made
against the Shantung award, not only
In the United States. but among the
liberal peoples.of Europe as well.
!. One Of the chief charges that has
been hurled against Japan and the
Shantung settlement Is that It wonld
leave the province completely within
the grip of the Japanese. that 1t
would trample Chinese rights and
place one Of the richest provinces of
enemy, who might resort to exploita-
ton. But this fear is nulled by the
very defnite statement Of Viscount
Uchida, who, as before stated. speaks
for his government, denying that
Japan will strive to seek any rights
prejudicial to Chinese sovereignty. It
is expected in Washington that Japan
will seek no other rights in Shantung
than may from time to time be award
ed to other nations in due course.
!, Early Action Expected.
The pledge of Foreign Minister
Uchida that the negotiations with
China shall become operative imme-
the peace treaty. rs extremely graft
tying to. government officials. who.
believing that the signature will be
attached within the course Of the next
four. or Ave weeks, see early realixa-
ton Of everything that Japan has
that there should be negotiations in
regard to the return Of Chinese rights
in Shantung. as the Germans so COM
pletely dominated Kiaochow and
Shantung that. the mere detail Of
transferring interests. economic
coed for some time. This, however, is
not expected to continue for more
than a period Of six months at most.
Possibly the process Of transfer will
take even less period. At any rate
there Is inclination among officials to
believe the process Of transfer will be
speeded by the government at Toxic
from political reasons both at home
and abroad.
Withdrawal Of Troops.
. viscount Uchida's pledge that Jam
anese troops will be removed from
the territory also is extremely pleas
ing to those who argued that an long
as Japanese troops were maintained
in the territory it would be possible
for Japan to completely dominate
them do their bidding at every turn.
Germany, during sixteen years Of
tenure in Kiaochow and Shantuns.
maintained large military forces ali
the time. and ner right meyer was
fact that Japan agrees to remove ali
troops and leave the territory ia
Chinese police and military jurisdic-
ton is far more than government Of
aeials had expected lanai In light na Of Ger;
large rights in shantung 1t was to
he expected, argue some, that troons
would also be stationed Ger CONTROL
led territories; but the japanese prom
ise of removal ends such peril to
the Chinese as might have been an
Japan desires only partnership with
China in the control of tho Tsingtau
Tsinan railway, q partnership which
will in no wise react to the disinterest
viii insure protection Of such eco
nomic rights Of Japan In China &c are
Continued on Second Pase.)
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