Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10

TAI CHI quo.
and Japan replied in identical terms
Already she had agreed in notes ex-
changed in 1915 to restore Kiaochow
to China in event of her securing
from Germany the free disposal Of
the German rights.
4 +
so, inasmuch as all had approved
of China's abrogation of her treaties
with Germany all the former German
rights obviously returned automati-
cally to China when she declared
war.
but to this actual and obvious
situation China has been unable to
give effect because of the continued
and illegal possession by Japan of
the territories involIa2Y This point
must be fully understood. 1t is one
of the most important of all those
involved.
AT the time of the peace confer
ence Germany had no rights what
ever in Kiaochow or elsewhere in
Shantung. In bestowing upon Japan
the kiaochow leased territory and
the railway and mining rights in
Shantung the conference appropri-
ated not the rights of Germany, but
those Of China; not those on an
enemy country, but of an allied ma
ton. ruthlessly transferring them
to a stronger ally.
Thus the conference sanctioned
and perpetuated an act of wanton
aggression committed by ruthless
Germany against helpless China
twenty years ago, an act which then
and later was severely condemned
throughout the civilized world.
This conference decision with RI.
gard to Shantung is basic thing. a
very serious thing. That it should find
any defenders here is a surprise to us.
Yet 1 see that President Lowell of
Harvard and certain American news
papers have tried to minimize the Gin
OF 1t, on the ground that not the &C.
tual province, but the economic rights
within the province are involved.
That Is the point; it was that which
gave rise to the real amazement Of
Japan when she achieved that for
which she had not hoped. 1t is as il a
child. conscious of the Stiffness of
crying for the moon, had done so.
none the less, as children will, and
suddenly had found the moon in it's
possession. only Japan knows much
better how to exploit Shantung and
through it China as a whole than q
child would know just how to exploit
the moon.
"One week before the decision was
made, and shortly after the presenta
ton by China of memorandum for
mally declaring that she would abro-
gate the 1915 treaties, certain semi
official members of the Japanese dele
cation approached me twice with The
following offers, which had been Of
ficially inspired:
First, Japan would renounce her
right to an exclusive settlement in
Kiaochow.
Second, the TRANSMITTING railway
Woulu De operated Jointly by China
and Japan. 1t is not a government
company, but property owned by
Chinese citizens and German citizens.
Under international law Japan had no
imaginable right to seize it when
China was still neutral. But Joint
operation by China and Japan was
suggested, similar to that which had
existed with China and Germany.
Third, that Japan would renounce
any pretension to a sphere of influence
in Shantung, thus taking the lead
among the powers in this matter.
after these suggestions had been
made to me I asked about Manchuria
and was assured that Manchuria
would be considered later. So we
passed to the fourth point. 1t was:
Fourth. that Japan would agree
to the financial participation of other
powers in the construction Of the rail.
way lines.
I'VE then declared that we wished