The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-05-30
Secret Treaties Cause
OF Chinese Unrest
Japan'S Agreement With Entente And
Russia Disclose Disposition Of
Shantung Province Without KnOwl-
edge OF Chinese-Why China was
Kept From Entering War

Associated Press dispatches what the
controversy between Japan and China
is all about. By permission of the
Associated Press and the New York
Times, The Maui News is enabled to
pTnt herewith a resume of the Jap
ha e-Chinese case which recently APP
r-Sred in the New York Times, show
ing the diplomatic correspondence
and the secret treaties involved.
Copyright, 1919, by The New York
Times Company
Special cable to 1.-THE New York
Times"
PARIS, April 21-No delegation out
side those of the powers directly con
cerned is more interested in the out
come of the Adriatic controversy
than the Chinese, for there is a point
of curious similarity between the
quarrel of Italy and Jugoslavia and
that of China and Japan over the
Chinese Province of S%hantung. There
is also this difference; Italy is strug-
Cling to get the debatable territory
promised her by England and France
as in inducement to enter the war
Japan is fighting to get admittedly
SIlliCoS 10
letting China enter the war.
Japan bases her case on secret
agreements made by England, France,
Italy and Russia in February, 1917,
that they would support %Japan's
claims to the German Pacific islands
north of the equator, n to the
Chinese territory of Shantung from
which Germany had been ousted.
Evidence of these promises given to
Japan is contained in hitherto I'M
published diplomatic notes which are
part of this cable dispatch.
Neither President Wilson nor the
Chinese delegates knew of the exist
ence of these secret agreements when
they came to Paris. The disclosure
was first made to Mr.. Wilson at a
meeting of the Council of Ten, when
: the question of the mandatory system
as suggested by the American Presi-
dent was first under discussion. 1t
was then proposed that the German
islands be disposed of by placing
them under mandates.
How Wilson Learned of Treaties
1t was an awkward moment. MI.
LLOYD George remarked that an ar
rangement of a different character
had already been reached with refer
enc to the islands. Mr.. Wilson ask
d what it was. Mr.. Lloyd George
turned to Baron Maxine for an eX-
PLANTATION, whereupon Mr.. wilson was
informed that Japan had received the
promise of England, France, Italy,
and Russia, two years before, tnat
she should have outright all the Ter
man islands north of the equator, ana
that she had agreed that Australia
should have all to the south. 1t was
common knowledge that such a uls-
tribution had been long contemplated
but nobody outside the Foreign Omces
of the Governments directly involve
knew that there were definite, sign
ed agreements concerning the deal.
After learning so much Mr.. Wilson
asked if there were any other secre'
- agreements which had not been pro
duced at the conference. 1t was then
admitted that the agreement VIII
Japan also included he British
French, and Italian promises to sup
port her claims to the Chinese Prov
ince of Shantung as the price Japan
demanded for allowing China to en-
fer the war, despite the fact thai
China had been repeatedly trying tc
get into the war against Germany o.
her own VolitlOn.
The reason for her failure to be
come a participant makes an interest
ing phase of this Asiatic question
She was barred out in the early stages
of hostilities because Japan a NJ
desire to let China participate in th'
military task of recovering her owl
territory in Shantung Province iron
the Germans at Kiachau. Again, II
November, 1915, China tried to en-
ter the contest as desired by thu
European powers. On that occasion
Raron Ishii, then Japanese Mlnlstel
of Foreign Affairs, said to the Euro
mean Ambassadors at Toxic: "JapaI
could not view without Apprehension
the moral awakening of 4OO,OOO'OO'
Chinese which would result T
their entering the war"
China did not dare act contrary u
the wishes of Japan, for she knew
europe could not help her in case o
need, and she feared Japanese aggres
sion. But another opportunity cam
10 China early in 1917, when TN
limited States broke diplomatic rela
tions with Germany and invited al
the neutral countries of the world U
follow her example. Ihen JdpaI
like the rest of the world, reallze'
that America would o o become a
active belligerent, and that the az
feat of Germany was no longer
matter of doubt. Japan also realize
then that she could no longer kee
China neutral; so Viscount Moton'
then the Japanese Minister OF Fol
eign Affairs, Immediately set to wor
10 insure Japan's position in tn
Peace Conference in anticipation c
China herself being represented
that conference to plead her o"
cause.
Text of the Correspondence
From this resulted the folloWlh
diplomatic correspondence WIN II
secret promises.
Motono first took up the matte
with the British Ambassador at l,
L;o The Ambassadors reply was n