The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-07
LANSING SHOWS SURPRISING

(, scribe II because we had numerous
memos on the subject.
Borah: Was there q memo which par
took In It's general nature Of n descrip-
| ton OF an account OF the action of the
Japanese delegates toward the Chinese
delegates with reference TO shantungf
Lansing: have no recollection Of such
| q memo.
| After some disuussicn Of the time
which elapsed between settlement of the
Shantung matter and it's being made
public Senator Borah asked At the time
that China broke on her diplomatic re-
lations with Germany were any .assur-
ances given to Chino either directly OF
| indirectly through the American Minis
ter at Pekin. with reference to the United
States taking an interest In Chinese af-
| fairs at Versailles and seeing that her
| rights were protected?
Lansing: cannot recall.
Borah: The record of, that would be
In the State Department II any such in
structions were sent7
| Lansing: Yes.
Borah: wish you would mako note
of that and also make n note OF the fact
| ss to whether that assurance was re-
stated at the time that China actually
declared war against Germany. These
| are all the questions desire to ask you
until we get these other facts
Lodge: Mr.. Secretary. has there ever
been any note or intimation--I will not
undertake to describe the form-of any
sort from Japan that she would regard
| any attempt on the part of the United
States or its nationals to lend money to
China as interfering with Japanese there,
tending to create disturbance. and that II
might be brought UP under Article 15 of
! the league?
Lansing: 1 never heard Of such Q
thing.
/ Senator Knox (Pa.) It In true. Is II
| not, Mr.. secretary that under the de-
| mands that were made upon China by
Japan in 1915, called commonly the
twenty-one demands. one was that II
| China needed money for the building Of
railroads and the development Of her re-
sources she must first apply to Japan?
Lansing: Yes.
Knox; Might not that raise a ques-
| ton that would go to the League Of Ma
| tons?
Lansing: You know she modified
| those twenty-one demands
Knox: DID she modify that particu-
lar one7
| Lansing: Yes, that II my recollection.
I should like to make a full report on
the twenty-one demands
Claimed Special Interest.
Japan In the Lansing -Ishii agreement
which you acknowledge ID for a special
interest throughout China entirely.
Lansing: Yes.
Knox: Covering the whole of China
Lansing: Yes.
Knox: Had not her previous claims Of
special interest been limited to Man.
churia?
Lansing: This made no distinction,
| except II was stated that Il was on ao-
count Of the contiguity of territory, and
that would naturally apply to Man
churla.
Knox: My recollection is that as far
back as 1912 Japan formulated and pre-
scented claim of special interest. prac-
ttcally in the language of the Lansing
lshii agreement, except that she limited
her special interest to Manchuria. She
did not present II as to other portions
OF continental China. Have you any
recollection about that?
Lansing No. I have not
Senator New (Ind.): Mr. Secretary,
do you know when Chan learned of the
secret agreements between Great Brit
ain. Russia, France. Italy and Japan?
Lansing: No. sir.
New: Did China at any time make
any appeal to the United States with
reference to the protection OF her terri
torial interests at the time of the Peace
Conference. asking for the good Offices
of the United States.
Lansing; do not think there was
anything formal OF course, China's
delegates saw the delegates Of the
Emitted States and discussed the matter
with them.
New: And II was In the nature of an
informal appeal. was It?
Lansing: I do not want to cali II an
appeal II was discussion Of the ques-
ton just IN the same way that the
japanese delegates discussed the cues
ton
New: How did the United States NEE,
that appeal?
Lansing: The United States could act
only az body or in the person Of the
President ! do not know how the Presi.
cent met II. All know 10 the informal
nature OF the conference between dele
gates of the American commission ana
OF the Chinese commission which took
place.
Lansing's Memory Fnils.
New: Did the United States seek TO
influence China to enter the war on tie
Lansing would like to make a rerort
on that. too. cannot recall lust What
the course was and am afraid I might
make statement that would not be In
exact accordance with the facts.
Senator Harding: We did ask all neu-
trail nations 70 break relations with Ger
many. did we not7
Lansing Yes
Senator New: You do not know then
whether the President or the American
ENJOYS at any time sought to obtain
from Japan guarantee to restore the
Province Of Shantung to Chinaf
Lansing knew there was such an
effort made.
New: Are you at liberty to state the
character and conditions Of II?
Lansing: No am not. because 1t was
made entirely by the President.
New: But II was made?
Lansing; Yes.
Senator Williams (Miss.) / did not
quite understand what the effort was TO
which Senator New referred.
Senator New: An effort to obtain from
Japan q guarantee - return the Shan
tung province and territory ,hat was held
by Germany prior to the war to China.
Senator Williams An effort by the
United States. do you mean7
Senator New: Yes.
senator Hitchcock kNeb.). And the
answer was that the Presieent had made
such an effort.
Lansing Yes. I do not wish to con-
vey the idea that there was a failure to
do 80.
Senator New: understand but II IL
understood that you viii endeavor to en-
large upon that a little?