New-York tribune., 1919-05-18
::Shantllng Goes
Back to China.
uchida Pledges
Japan Will Keep Every
Promise, Says Foreign
Minister, Deprecating Sus-
picion of Foreign Press
Satisfied With Terms
Declares Toxic Will Benefit
From Germany Under
Treaty as Agreed Upon

Treaty as Agreed Upon
/
: TOXIC, May II (By The Associated
Press .-Viscount Uchida, the Japa-
snese Foreign Minister, to-day gave out
. statement deprecating suspicion
which has been expressed concerning
.Japan's intentions in China and reiter-
ating' the assurance given by Baron
Maxine in Paris, May 4, that the
.Shantung Peninsula would be returned
to China. The statement follows:
"The recent development of the in
numerous diplomatic questions of
great moment, the satisfactory settle
sment of which can only be arrived at
in an atmosphere Of good will and mu-
tual confidence among the powers con-
cerned.
Urges Unbiased Judgment
ITO attain this desirable end, each
nation should be guided by calm and
unbiased judgment in its estimate of
the conduct of foreign nations While
careful not to lose sight of its own
standpoint, it should not forget to
appreciate the standpoint of other peo-
pies and to seek to adjust and harmon
,ize the special positions from which
those questions are viewed by each
party.
suspicion or prejudice not war
ranted by the actual facts, or a display
of selfshness without due weight be-
ing accorded to the interests of others,
is deplorable in any ease, and is doubly
dangerous at the present moment when
the whole structure of international
relations is in process of reorganiza-
tion looking to the establishment of a
solid and lasting peace.
Regrets Press Comment
"My attention has recently been
called to certain articles In the press,
both at home and abroad, which, vie we'd
in this light, are much to be regretted.
Grave charges, for instance, have from
time to time been made in some of the
Japanese papers against the attitude Of
friendly nations in China, Siberia or
Corea without any evidence in support
of those allegations and without regard
to the serious consequences which may
FOLLOW from them, compromising the
position of this country.
ut is not denied, on the other hand
that certain sections of foreign jour
nalists in China have equally been dis
-seminatng mischievous reports in mis-
apprehension or misrepresentation of
the true aims of Jaan. Some OF them
have even gone so far as to level at
Japan the preposterous reproach that
she had contemlated the conclusion of
secret alliance with Germany while
the war was in rogress. There is, how
ever, no reason why We should follow
their i'll advised example and indulge
ourselves in similar proceedings, cal
culated to create international mis-.
trust and estrangement.
Urges Frank Questioning
'If concrete facts are shown Justify
ing apprehension that our legitimate
rights and interests are being disre-
sEarded by any foreign power, the only
effective means of defending those
rights and interests is to communicate
with the power in question, freely anc
frankly, pointing out the actual fact:
of the case, which may thus have en-
gagged our attention. Certainly no sucl
ground Of apprehension is at presen'
anywhere to be discovered, but shoule
1t ever happen to exist the government
will always be found ready to proceed
to necessary measures on the line,
above laid down.
Turning to our relations with China
learn with as much regret as sur
prise that in certain quarters seriou
misgivngs are entertained as to ou
true and genuine intention, and tina
we are even credited with the desigr
10 modify our avowed policy of restitu
tlon to China of the territory Of Kiao
sChau.
i can only indorse and reaffirm tn,
statement ISSUED to the press by Baror
maKino at Paris on May 4, definin,
sJapan's position in reference to tn,
onantung question. Japan will kee,
every word which she has passed.
viii Hand Back Shantunq
y, The Shantung peninsula will b,
handed back to China in full SOW
ereignty, and all arrangements made t,
promote the mutual benefit Of the tw,
snations viii be loyalty observed
II Wall be remembered that China
10y Joining in the present war, ha. Sc
cured from the associated power.
suspension of the payment Of tn,
sSo1er indemnity and the raising a
Chinese customs tariffs to an efY,rt;v
D per cent. She will secure from Csr
many terms OF much value to her b
'ne forthcoming treaty Of peace.
we have gladly given our supper
70 tns legitimate aspirations Of Chin
in all these matters, and We will faith
July hold to the policy which I an
nounced at the last session of the IN,
speriai Diet. with view to placing on
relations with China upon a has;s =