The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-15

the international oonsortium she took
UP the question of large reorganiza-
ton loan Of s125,o00,000. In order to
secure their share Of influence with the
Chinese Government, Russia and Japan
requested to join this consortium with
the consent Of the other countries
Japs More Aggressive.
! Throughout the entire period, since
the outbreak of the Europeon war. at
fairs In China have seemed to European
nations of much less import than the
duties Of the war. The Japanese have
apparently strengthened their methods
Of closing the open door and have also
much more vigor, as at the time of the
| Cheng-chia-tung affair tho Japanese
have been more aggressive. II not to- say
nese, especially of the Chinese policy.
"The great war brought to Japan her
! opportunity. China likewise saw her
opportunity and attempted to- play her
part. but being weak and not promptly
supported by foreign friendly nations,
and being directly and bitterly opposed
/ by Japan, she was compelled to yield.
/ For example--at the beginning before
Japan acted, China, In order to secure
her neutrality and protect her own inter-
ests, suggested the following steps:
One That there should be neu-
tralized under Chinese control all her
territory leased to foreign belligerent
! nations or those that might become
belligerent.
Two. If war were waged on her
| territory. the warlike acts of bel
ligerents should be limited to spec
flied areas 1t will be recalled that
such limitations had been made with
the consent of the Powers during
the Russo Japanese war. and
Three. That China would join the
! Allies.
lowing to her weakness. she could
not put this policy into effect without
consulting other nations, The United
States encouraged her. The German
| legation was inclined to be favorable to
| her first proposal But before any ac-
ton could be taken, Japan, seeking her
| own aims, on August Is, 1914, sent an
| ultimatum to Germany, advising the i'm
/ perial Government
to withdraw Immediately from Japa-
nese and Chinese waters German
men of war and armed vessels of all
kinds, and to disarm at once those
which cannot be SO withdrawn.
To deliver on a date not later than
September Is to the impartial Japa-
nese authorities, without condition or
compensation. the entire leased terri
tory of Kiao-Chau with a view to the .
eventual restoration OF the same to
China.
"In taking this action ordering Ger
many to withdraw Immediately from
Chinese waters Japan insultingly as
sumed an authority over China to which
she had no right and a weakness in
China which was not justifable. As a
matter of fact, China did intern war
ships Of both belligerents in waters un-
der her control.
Powers Cold to China.
president Yuan Shih-kai, although
he had intimated his readiness to order
Chinese forces to capture Tsingtau. was
prevented from so doing by the GOODNESS
of the reception by other Powers, espe-
cially Japan. China attempted to limit
the scope of military operations There
was no need for military purposes of
going outside of the neutral zone about
Kiao- Chau, that had been leased to Ger
many. in order to send any troops In.
Great Britain followed China's wishes
In not going outside of the territorials
mentioned. The Japanese, on the other
hand, landed their troops some $50 miles
northwest of Tsingtau at Lungkow, far
beyond the limits indicated. Moreover,
on their march toward Tsingtau. the
Japanese assumed the military control
OF all the territory through which they
passed, seizing telegraph stations. bar
racks and all strategic positions besides
assuming control of the entire railway
between Tsingtau and Tsinan-fu, the
'apital of Shantung--a section of rail-
way most of which had nothing to do
with military needs. China made Wig
orous protests, but without avail.
"Slnce that time Japan has maintained
military stations throughout the length
Of the line, has built the important bar
racks as II for permanent control In
rsingtau and other stations. and has
kept some thousands of troops In the
province. Moreover. she has set up
civil administration including system
OF courts. and has, in certain instances.
been trying cases even between Chinese.
Again, in the parts of the town of Using
tau which are best suited for commercial
purposes, she has not only taken control
OF the former German positions, occu-
pied them with Japanese, and admins
tered them as public property or as pri-
vate Japanese property, but she mas
built up with permanent Japanese
buildings adapted for commercial pur-
poses much of the former unoccupied
land, has in more than one instance
forced foreigners, including Americans,
to remove their quarters from advan-
tageous positions to those which were
| ess suitable for their business, and has
given the territory thus acquired to
Japanese for their purposes.
"Our Government has in Its files evil
depce of high handed action ON the part
of the Japanese authorities against
Americans and American establishments
| far SURPRISING any pressure brought to
| bear upon them at any time. We should
bear In mind that the Japanese have as
sumed in the same territory far greater
power civil, military and economic,
than the Germans ever exercised. More
over, the Germans, especially of late
years, had apparently adopted the policy
OF Cancellation toward the Chinese and
had yielded some OF the privileges which
they formerly held; for example-in
| connection with mines. The japanese
until the signing of the peace treaty had
shown no disposition to yield more to
the Chinese rather to the contrary. they
had encroached.
Surrender of TsinGtau.
ION November 7, 1914. Tsingtau sur
rendered to this assault, apparently
merely whetting the Japanese determine
tien to strengthen her grip still further
The Powers, including the United States,
| had apparently acquiesced without diffi-
Guilty in her acts about Tslngtau. To
| secure her clutch on China as a whole.
the japanese Minister in PelSin on Janu-
airy is, 1915, presented directly to the
| President, contrary to diplomatic usage,
LAT, tlnu Nfxr-n L..