Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-12

Washington, teb. ll.-(By the As
sociated Press.)-Ohiciais of the
State department declined to make
any formal comment today on the
Chino-Japanese situation. The inn
preston was given that the whole
matter was being handled in Paris.
According to the reports received
here, the threats against China were
conveyed to the Chinese foreign
minister by the Japanese minister
in Peking in thinly-veiled terms.
The Japanese minister is said to
have pointed out that Japan had an
army of more than million men
idle at home, fully equipped and
with arms and munitions enough to
conduct a long war, and to have
pointed out that Japan had more
than half million tons of shipping,
with the intimation that this would
be ready on short notice for active
work. He also is said to have re-
ferred pointedly to large sums of
money owed to Japan by China and
to the fact that China had been un-
able to live up to its financial agree
ments.
Demands Upon China. \
Upon arriving in Paris without
the copies of the treaties which
they had been instructed to use in
seeking to break Japan's grip, the
Chinese delegates made verbal re-
ports of the substance of these
treaties to some of the peace dele
gates of the other countries. This
led the Japanese authorities to de-
mand of China that it disavow this
action on the part of its delegates
and that it keep secret the treaties.
Some of the secret treaties have
not yet been ratified by the Chinese
government, although Japan has
ratified them, and, according today's
ldvices, the japanese government is
every pressure to bear on
China to ratify them before anything
,an be done at Paris. The most i'm
Dortant of the treaties as yet unrati-
ned by China is the agreement of
September "a, 1918, which grants
to Japan and admits Japan
IS the successor to Germany's rights,
and properties in the
district. This includes
ALWAYS, mines and other valuable
and the rights to them for
/ long term of years. According to
he Chinese claim, Japan already has
under treaties and agree.
nents of two-fifths of the iron ore
deposits of the entire Chinese re-
lublic and is seeking possession of |
he other three-ffths.
Pressure Becoming Unbearable.
Although they so far have been
Tile to resist the Japanese demands. |
he Chinese officials now say that !
he pressure is becoming unbearable, |
The Chinese president has approved !
" cable the action Of the Chinese I
delegates in Paris in announcing
heir Willingness to make public the |
reaties in spite Of Japanese pres |
ure.
China has asked, depending upon |
he impression made upon the ac- /
delegates from other coun-
lies, that the peace conference see
he 2l demands made upon China
Y Japan in 1915 be revoked andJ
hab the Chinese republic be removed
from the influence { ia
an. The complete independence of
Gina is asked under the pro- ction
t the league Of nations.
Threats to Minister.
The account. Of Minister Reinseh's
isit to the Peking foreign office
ays he reafirmed the friendship of
he United States for China and de-
ired to give active support in the
esire for independence. He learned,
oweyer. that the japanese minister
. Peking reached the foreign min
ster a few minutes before him and
the intimations of what
fould happen if Japan's demands
iere not met.
Dispatches received here deserib-
lg the situation at Paris declare
hat the japanese attitude is causing
cal alarm in official circles Of Eu-
opean powers and the United
tates They speak Of constant ef-
legniinuel on rasc Two, Column slx.l z