The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-13
.ISHII QUITS U.s.;
MADE ERROR IN
CHINA PROBLEM
Ambassador Starts for
Toxic Following Resigna-
tion Not Yet Accepted.
"LEAvES ON A MISSION"
Report Of Americas Attitude
on Financial Aid Puts Japan
In Predicament.
Ssectal DespsfcA to THn SEN.

Specdt DespsfcA to The SuN.
WASHINGTON, June 12.-viscount
lshii, the Japanese Ambassador. left
here for Toxic this evening. thereby
ending his diplomatic mission in
washington and likewise ending an
unusual chapter Of hitherto unpub-
lished difficulties he has had in acting
as the representative Of his Govern
ment. The story that the Ambassador
Is leaving for his health or to take a
vacation is merely the customary dip
lomatic way Of explaining his de-
parture.
In reality he has sent his resignation
to Toxic because OF disagreements he
has had with officials here over matters
pertaining to China, and because Of his
Governments surprise that American
opinion has been permitted to favor
China and not Japan In Far Eastern
questions. including the shantuns
question.
So far as known here the Japanese
Government has not yet officially acted
on Viscount Ishifs resignation The
statement therefore. that the Ambassa-
dor 10 going to Toxic to discuss matter,
with the Japanese Foreign ONCE is tech
nicaIly correct, but few. II any, diplo-
mats here believe the Ambassador will
return to Washington.
Cause of the Trouble.
The disagreement involving Chinese
DrOhlema or
posed appointment Of a Japanese nnan-
cial adviser to China, was the chief
cause of Viscount Ishiis difficulty with
the Toxic Foreign Office. The Ambassa-
dor reported to his Government that the
United States Government looked with
favor upon the appointment which Toxic
desired to make OF a japanese financial
adviser. and. acting on the Amba ssa-
doris advice, the Japanese Government
went ahead and made the appointment
II then developed that the United States
Government did not look with favor on
the appointment This put tho Ambas-
sador in the embarrassing position of
having misinformed his Government as
to the attitude of the United States on
an important matter.
For more reasons than one the gov
/ ernment at Toxic was particularly anx-
! ious to have an accurate forecast OF
| what the United States would do in
| case Japan appointed a financial ad-
| wiser to China Prof. Jenks OF Cornell
University has been financial adviser to
| the Chinese Government for ten years or
| moro and there has been considerable
talk in Japan over the fact that an
American instead OF a Japanese was
| acting in this capacity.
China has had need OF a financial
adviser because the Chinese Government
! had embarked on an intricate plan Of
Transforming the silver standard to a
gold standard. Expert advice was de-
| sired to make the new standards apply
| to China's international trade. In ad-
| dition. there has been a plan on the
| part Of tho Chinese Government to abol-
( ish the issuance of notes by small banks
and centralize all In one bank of China
In paving the way TO have a Japa-
nese financial adviser gradually absorb
the duties OF Prof. Jenks, the Toxic
| Government proceeded very cautiously,
according to Information here. Japan
has had financial experts working with
| the Chinese Government but there never
has been a time when a Japanese had
! the influence over China's financial pro-
! gramme which Prof. jerks had. The
Japanese plan apparently sought to at
least make start toward winning this
| influence for Japan.
| The first difficulty which loomed up
as probable to the Japanese statesmen
| was the fear that the United States
| Government might object. In accord
ance, therefore. with the usual custom,
Toxic decided to Sound out" the United
States and Viscount Ishii was given this
| delicate mission to perform.
Ishii's Trip IL Praised.
, The fact that Secretary Lansing and
Viscoupt Ishii had signed the so-called
Lansing Ishii agreement. and the added
fact that the Ambassadors information
as to the American attitude on impor-
tant problems had been singularly cor
rect. were regarded in Toxic as prom
| ising we'll for the Ambassadors work in
| this case.
Anyway. the Japanese Government
anxiously awaited word from Viscount
1shil. and when the word came that the
United States Government would not OBJ
| ject. or would perhaps even look with
/ favor on the move. Toxic at once cred
tied the Ambassador not only with accu-
rate information. but with a flne diplo-
matte stroke into the bargain. The man,
ing OF the financial adviser proceeded
! according to plan.
Soon after Japan's plans had matured
| developments began to happen which
cast doubt upon Viscount Ishirs inter.
probation OF where the United States
Government stood on the question. Pau
s. Reinsch. the American Minister al
Pekin. did not like the plan at all, and
so Informed Washington In unmistakabls
terms
4 By way OF explanation. the Ambassa
dor had to fall back on the excuse tina,
he had misunderstood officials here. Al
the same time he is reported TO have
rendered his resignation. for a mistake
OF this serious character could admit.
tedly not he easily explained away.