Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-20
STIANTUNG is ONLY ONE
OFWRONGSDONECTIINA
Chances of Fighting 1t Lessened by Fact
That Reservation by Senate Would
Not Accomplish Result

I Japan. all her rights. title and privi-
| OVERWHELMINGLY those concerning
| the territory of Kiaochow. railways,
mines and submarine cables-wh1ch
| she acquired in virtue of the treaty
concluded by her with China on March
| relative to the province of Shantung.'
No Guarantee of Restoration.
treaty relating to the transfer of Ger
manys rights there to Japan. but
IaeS merely state in further detail
what was stated in the language
quoted. There is absolutely nothing
to show that China is to resume full
control in Shantung while the lease
wrung from China by Germany con-
tinues to run, and it has some sew
enty-seven years still to run.
The control of the port and bay of
Kiaochow and the German railroads
and other properties in Shantung
means that Japan will control the
capital province of China. and have an
immense advantage in trade and COM
merce with north China, for which
kiaochow is normally the chief port.
since November 6, 1914 when, on the
excuse of war with Germany, they
seized that port. Even since then 1t
has been treated as a conquered prov
lnce by the Japanese. it is charged.
The Japanese have occupied the Ger
man buildings for military and ad-
ministrative purposes, placed guards
along the railway to the capital. as
sumed military control of property
and Instituted civil government over
the territory it occupied.
The charge has been made, and so
far there has been no refutation of it.
that the Japanese made secret agree
ments with Great Britain, France,
Italy and Russia-who was still in
the war at the time-by which Japan
was to get the German rights and
privileges to Shantung at the peace
table. 1t has been charged, too, that
Japan prevented China's entering the
war until these agreements with the
allied nations had been contaminated.
She feared it is said, that if China
went into the war before these agree
ments were made, at the peace table
emma would very properly demand
that all German property and conces-
SONS in Chinese territory be handed
over to China at the close of the
war.
Rights" Obtained by Force.
Opponents of the treaty of peace saw
that China has been done a gross in
Justice in the disposition of Shan
tung. They point out that Germany
had no rights in Shantung which Ger
many uiu not acquire by Il KIND OF
stand and deliver, highway robbery
OF China in the first instance That
this injustice to China should be per-
petuated by the treaty which seeks
20 stablish a permanent world peace
Is radically wrong, they declare.
The supporters of the Shantung pro-
visions of the treaty insist that Japan
intends to keep her word and return |
to China the rights and concessions in |
Shantung which she obtains under |
the provisions of the treaty within !
short time. They insist that japan |
has always kept faith in dealing with
the United States and that she will |
do SO in dealing with China, and they
refer to the pledges of Japan in the |
ultimatum to Germany in 1914 and !!
agreements with China since, that |
Shantung is to go back to the Chinese |
ultimately. On the other hand, skep- |
tics point out that Japan has held |
Shantung for four years and more. |
They ask: IF she intends tc give |
Them up so quickly, why should there |
have been so much insistence at the |
peace conference by the japanese on |
the Shantung provisions" !
On the other hand, Great Britain J
and France have concessions and |
leases in China which were obtained !
by strong-arm methods, just as Ger |
many obtained her control in Shan
tung. If the peace were to be made |
solely with view to rendering COM |
plete justice to China these other !
powers would have to yield these |
rights and concessions. But the men |
who gathered at the peace table are |
'practicaf men. and China's claims |
met with small regard.
President Wilson Not Pleased.
The Presidents supporters see that !
he was not pleased with the Shan |
tung settlement at the peace table
But it is understood also that
Japan would never have entered the !
league of nations had she not been |
allowed to put through her claims to |
German rights and property in Shan |
tung. The price had to be paid, it |
is said. to shoe Japan into the league
of nations.
And now the Senate of the United
States is struggling with the same
problem that confronted the confer
ees at the peace table. While many
of the senators feel that China has
been given a raw deal, the probabili-
ties are that the majority will show
themselves also practical men," and
the treaty will not be amended with
regard to the Shantung provisions.
To remedy the injustice done China
in Shantung it would be necessary to
amend the treaty itself, sending it
back to another peace conference. A
reservation by the United States
would not avail in this case.