The sun., 1919-07-16

etructionB received from mis- Britannia
Majesty's principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs to communicate TO
you the following message from his
Britannia Majestys Government
His Britannia Msjesty's Govern
ment accedes with pleasure to the re-
quest OF the Japanese Government for
an assurance that It will support Japan's
claims in regard to the disposal of Ger
many's rights in Shantung and posses
sions in the islands north of the equator
on the occasion Of the peace conference
1t being understood that the japanese
Government will In the eventual peace
settlement treat in the same spirit Great
Britain's claims to tho German islands
south Of the Equator.
"I avail myself of this opportunity,
NJ. le Ministre, to renew to your excel
lency the assurance of my highest con-
sideration. "CoNYNGHAM GREENE,
His Britannia Majesty's Ambassador.
"' To his Excellency Viscount Ichiro
Mono.
Ills Imperial Japanese Majesty's
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Japan Writes Acceptance.
ION the 21st day Of February, 1917,
the Japanese Government replied 10 this
communication as follows, emitting the
formal part:
The Japanese Government Is deeply
appreciative Of the friendly spirit in
which your Government has given as
surance and happy TO noN It as fresh
proof of the close ties that unite the two
allied Powers. take pleasure in
stating that the Japanese Government
on its part is fully prepared to support
In the same spirit the claims which may
be put forward at the peace conference
in regard to the German possessions in
the islands south Of the equator
While the Japanese Government was
waiting for reply from tho British
Government 1t proceeded also to nego-
tiate with the other allied Powers. Its
message to the French Ambassador at
Toxic was signed by the Japanese For
| eign Minister and was as follows
The Imperial Japanese Government
has not yet formally entered into con-
versations with the Entente Powers con-
corning the conditions OF peace I propose
to present to Germany, because 1t is
| guided by the thought that such ques-
tons ought to be decided in concert be-
tween Japan and the said Powers at the
| moment when the peace negotiations be-
GIN Nevertheless, in view of recent
developments in the general situation,
and In view of the particular arrange
ments concerning peace conditions, such
sition of the Bosphorus, Constantinople
| and the Dardanelles. being all under con-
sideration by the Powers interested the
Imperial Government of japan believes
the moment has come for IL also to ex-
press Its desires relative to certain meas
| ures OF peace essential to Japan and to
| submit them for the consideration of the
Government of the French Republic.
| To Crush Germany in Far East.
The French Government is thor.
oughly informed OF all the efforts the
Japanese Government has made In a
general manner to accomplish its task
In the present war. and particularly &c
guarantee for the future the peace OF
Oriental Asia and the security OF the
Japanese Empire. for which it is alb.
solutely necessary to take from Ger.
many its bases Of political. military and
economic activity In the Far East
Under these conditions the Imperial
Japanese Government proposes t. de.
mand from Germany at the time of the
peace negotiations the surrender Of the
territorial rights and special interests
Germany possessed before the war ir
Shantung and the islands situated NORTH
of the equator in the Pacific Ocean.
The Imperial Japanese Government
SoiiuueHtiy hopes tne government or tht
French Republic. realizing the legiti
macy of these demands, will give as
surance that her case being proved
Japan may count upon its full support
on this question.
1T goes without saying that repara
ton for damages caused to the life anc
property OF the japanese people by tn,
unJustifiable attacks of the enemy. a.
well as other conditions Of peace OF G
character common to all the Entent,
Powers, are entirely outside the con
sideration OF the present question
"A few days later the French Am
hassador replied TO the Japanese For
eign Office as follows:
THE Government of the French re
public is disposed to give the Japanes,
Government its accord In regulating a
the time of the peace negotiations ques
tons vital to Japan concerning Shan
tung aud the German islands in thu
Pacific north of the equator. II alst
agrees to support the demands OF tn.
Imperial japanese Government for tn,
surrender OF the rights Germany pos
sessed before the war in this Chimes,
province and these islands.
France Makes Some Demands.
IN. BRAND demands. on the otheI
hand, that Japan gives it's support Il
OBTAIN from China the breaking of IL
diplomatic relations with Germany. anC
that 1t give this act desirable sgnifi
oance The consequences of this Il
China should be the following:
First. handing passports to the Ger
man diplomatic agents and Consuls
Second. the obligation OF all unde
German jurisdiction to leave Chinese ter
iritory.
Third. the internment of German
ships in Chinese ports and the ultlmat,
requisition OF these ships in order t
place them at the disposal OF the Allie
following the example OF Italy and Por
tugal. According to the information o
the French Government there are fftee,
German ships In Chinese ports totalin,
about 10000 tons.
Fourth, requisitiou OF German com
merclal houses established in China
forfeitlng the right of Germany In tn
concessions she possesses In certain pa ri
of China
Upon receipt of this communication
the Foreign Minister OF Japan, on be
half OF japan. promised compliance Wit
the request OF the French Government
contained in this letter. Similar nego
tiations were entered into with simila
results with Italy. although the nego
tiations with Italy took place in Rom
and not in Toxic. Similar agreemen
also was made with Russia, and it mus
be remembered at that time Russia wa
still in the war. and II was anticipate
at the close of the war she would hav
a place at the peace table
at 10 thus clearly disclosed that Will
these leading Governments of the worl
4 In cat int 10