The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-02-11
Willy JAP STOLE
CHINESE PAPERS
Peace Delegation Of OrientaIs
Arrived in Paris Minus
Vital Documents.
GRAVE CONCERN CAUSED
BY Attitude of Toxic Powers.
War Threatened if China
Reveals Treaties.

Washington, Feb. liza. P)-
Japan's attitude toward China in the
peace conference is causing grave
apprehension among the representa-
tives of the other associated powers.
According to official diplomatic in
formation reaching here, Japan vir-
tually has threatened war If China
makes public secret treaties between
the two countries andnfails to carry
out an agreement to Japan the
successor of Germany sfights, prop
erty and concession Sid by Ger
many at the outbr >of the Euro
pean war III
China is relying :the peace con-
ference, where hef 'legates are said
to have made al .@cellent impress
sion, and Is seek support from the
United States z Great Britain.
Advices from Orient through
diplomatic chs is SAY American
Minister Reinf 1t Pekin, seeking to
reassure the. ds~ lese. foreign minis
ter with statements of friendship of
the United States government, was
told frankly that the foreign minis
ter did not see how at this time the
United States or Great Britain could
divert their attention to the Orient
when the European situation de-
manded so much attention.
When the Chinese peace delegates
arrived in Paris, the information now
available discloses, they reported
that their copies of the secret treaties
were stolen from their baggage while
they were passing through Japan and
consequently they We're unable to
carry out their purpose of making
them public at the conference.
No Formal Comment.
Officials of the state department de-
clined to make any formal comment
today on the situation. The impress
sion was given that the whole mat
ter was being handled in Paris.
ThinIy Yelled Terms.
According to the reports received
here, the threats against China were
conveyed to the Chinese foreign min
lister by the Japanese minister in Pc
kin in thin1y yelled terms. The Japa-
nese minister is said to have pointed
out that Japan had an army of more
than a million men idle at home, fully
equipped and with arms and NUM-
tions enough to conduct a long war,
and to have pointed out that Japan
had more than half million tons of
shipping. with the intimation that
this would be ready on short notice
for active work. He also is said to
have referred pointedly to large sums
of money owed to Japan by China
and to the fact that China had been
unable to live up to her financial
agreements.
Upon arriving in Paris without the
copies of the treaties which they had
been instructed to use in seeking to-
break Japan's grip, the Chinese defe-
gates made verbal reports of the sub
stance of these treaties to some of
the peace delegates of the other coun-
tries. This led the Japanese authori-
ties to demand of China that she dis
avow this action on the part of her
delegates and that she keep secret
the treaties.
Some of the secret treaties have
not yet been ratified by the Chinese
government, although Japan has rat
fled them, and according to today's
ldvices the Japanese government is
every pressure to bear on
China to ratify them before anything |
,an be done at Paris. The most i'm
oortant of the treaties as yet unrati- |
led by China is the agreement of |
Sept. "a, 1918, which grants Shan
ung to Japan and admits Japan as |
he successor to Germany's rights, !
Shantung district. This includes rail- |
ways, mines and other valuable prop |
srty and the rights to them for a long
erm of years. According to the Chi
1ese claim, Japan already has pos
session under treaties and agree
nents of two-fifths of the iron ore |
deposits of the entire Chinese repub- |
ic and is seeking possession of the |
)ther three -fifths.
Able to Resist Japan.
Although they so far have been |
ible to resist the Japanese demands, !
he Chinese officials now say the |
pressure is becoming unbearable. The
Chinese president has approved by 1
able the action of the Chinese dele
rates in Paris in announcing their
to make public the treat
es in spite of Japanese pressure.
China has asked, depending upon
he impression made upon the ac-
'redited delegates from other coun-
ries, that the peace conference see
he twenty-one demands made upon
china by Japan in 1915 be revoked
md that the Chinese republic be re-
moved definitely from the influence
# Japan. The complete independ-
nee of China is asked under the pro-
ection of the league of nations.
The account of Minister Reinsch's
'isit to the Pekin foreign office says
lie reaffirmed the friendship of the
United States for China and desired
o give active support in her desire
or independence. He learned, how
yer. that the Japanese minister in
'ekin reached the foreign minister a
ew minutes before him and con-
eyed the intimations of what would
appen if Japan's demands were not
net
Dispatches received here describ-
1g the situation at Paris declare the
apanese attitude is causing real
larm in official circles of European
overs and of the United States.
hey speak of constant efforts of Ja-t
an to acquire concessions in China
nd Siberia and of her demand for
he Caroline and Marshall islands
nd other islands in the Pacific.