Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-25
ASSERTS CHINA RELIED ON US.
AND MR.. WILSON SIGHTED HER
Thomas F. Millard, Observer of Far East,
Tells How America Offended
Deeply.

That the American government re-
fused China's request that an Amerl-
can political and legal adviser to the
Chinese peace delegates in Paris De
named; that President Wilson slight
ed the requests of the Chinese dele
gates, who were fighting for the COM
plete return of Shantung and that
deep offense was created in the minds
of Chinese delegates by actions OF
the American commission to nego-
tiate peace, is the declaration OF
Thomas F. Willard. for years editor
of papers in China and all author
and observer of note on far eastern
affairs. In a memorandum which he
has prepared he sets forth the
Chinese viewpoint of negotiations In
Paris.
Says Mr.. Wilson Made Inquiries.
In discussing the far eastern sit
uation, Mr. Willard said:
learned there of the existence of the
so-called Shantung secret agreements
between Japan, on the one side, and
Italian governments on the other side,
whereby Japan was to obtain the
German rights, so called, in the prov
ince of Shantung, China. The ex-
istence of those agreements was re-
1uctantly disclosed at plenary ses-
sion Of the council of ten in F,ebru-
airy, 1919, in response to inquiries of
President Wilson, thereby establish
ing presumption that the President
was previously ignorant of their ex-
istence. The President asked that
the texts of the agreements be placed
on the conference table. Baron
Maxine replied that he must first
consult his government. Subsequent
ly copies were given for private use
OF the conference, and privacy was
enjoined on the Chinese plenipoten-
tiaries.
China Proposes Compromise.
after it became known that the
Japanese ENJOYS in private argument
among the delegates to the confer
ence. and through the japanese Off
cial propaganda at Paris and else
where, were insisting that not to
award the German concessions in
Shantung directly to Japan would be
an obvious slap at japan by ques-
tioning her sincerity in promising to
restore Shantung and Tsingtau to
China. and would impugn Japan's ma
tional honor. the Chinese ENJOYS at
Paris. in order to show their reason
ableness, proposed in writing to the
council of four a compromise, as fol-
lows:
"'China would assent to have the
German concessions in Shantung ced-
ed directly to Japan in the treaty of
peace, thus Saving Japan's face" in
the matter.
Japan to promise. same to be
ole t.
Shantung and Tsingtau to China in
two years.
"'China would agree to repay Japan
for all expenses incurred by japan in
the military operations required to
take Tsingtau from Germany
Implies China Relied on q. S.
when the peace conference was
convened, the Chinese delegation de-
sired to employ one or two American
legal and political advisers to assist
them at Paris. When the advice of
the American government was sought
on this point. China was advised that.
as the United States would take espe-
cial interest in China's case at the
conference because of the circum-
stances under wH:ch China entered
the war and the especial interest of
America in the Pacific ocean question,
the American government felt that it
would be more free to assist China at
included in the Chinese delegation.
That is why China had British and
French advisers at Paris, but no
American.
when at Peking the Chinese gov
eminent was preparing it's case for
the peace conference it submitted to
the American government the mat
~ hr@v ~
Paris; and on the advice of the
American government certain mat
ters were not brought forward by
the Chinese government in order
that the American government would
support China's case in toto.
Asks for Minutes of Meeting.
Immediately after the decision OF
the council of four on the Shantung
question. on April 30. 1919. the Chi
nese delegation, in writing, officially
requested of the council of four
precis of the minutes of the meeting
Of the council of four when the de-
cision was arrived at in order tc
obtain confirmation of the alleged
oral promise which the Japanese envoy
had made to President Wilson about
evacuating and restoring Shantuns
province and Tsingtau and Other
matters. More than month after.
ward the Chinese delegation hat
been unable to obtain copy of those
minutes (not later information is a.
present available). Meanwhile i'm.
mediately after the decision was an
nounced from Japanese and British
official sources at Paris it was plainly
intimated that the Japanese envo,
had not made any definite promise:
in regard to this matter. and 1t is &
fact that the clauses of the treaty
contained no qualifications or prom
ises whatever.
"A similar request. in that case al
appeal was made by the Chimes,
delegation to President Wilson, will
the same result
Immediately after the decision thu
Chinese delegates at Paris made {
special and urgent request to SCI
President Wilson. UP to a month
later this had not been granted.
Delegation Deeply Offended.
1.-THE Chinese delegation was deeply
offended because the American commits
sion chose to communicate the de.