Arizona republican., 1919-07-16
Official Documents Tn at Passed Between J a pan and French and British Introduced By Norris to Expose Alleged Secret Treaties"

W NASHINGION, July I5.-A charge that Japan secretly secured pledges from Great Britain. France, Italy and Russia early in 1917 that in the peace settlement Shantung peninsula should. for certain considerations, be turned over to the Tokio government. was made in thesenate today by Senator Norris, republican. of Nebraska who produced what he declared to be embodying the promises of Great Britain and France.
 Thepledges the Nebraska senator declared fully explained the pressure which resulted in Shantungs transfer O Japan under the Versailles treaty whose ratification by the senate. he asserted. would write the blackest page in the nations history"
 Great Britain's influence in the matter he charged. was scecured by Japan's support of British claims to, Pacific islands south of the equator, while Frances aid was purchased by a promise of the Tokio government to help draw China intothe war so that German ships in Chinese harbors would be available for carrying troops and provisions to France.
 Talk Agreement with British On the 27th day of March, 1916." said Senator Norris, the Japanese. minister of foreign affairs at Tokioi approached the British ambassador located at that place with a view of bringing about an agreement with the British government. The British min ister cabled to his government at Lon don, and after receiving instructions from his government, wrote the Japa- nese government as follows:
 British Embassy, Tokio, Feb.
 Is, 1917.
 My Dear Excellency: With
 reference to the subject of our
 conversation of the 27th ultimo
 his Brittannic majesty's
 government accedes with pleasure
 to the request of the Japanese
 government for an assurance that
 they vii lsupport Japan's claims
 In regard to the disposal of Ger
 many's rights in Shantung DOS
 sessions and the islands north of
 the equator on the occasion of
 the peace conference. It being
 understood that the Japanese gov-
 ernment will in the eventual peace
 settlement treat in the same spirit Great Britain's claims to the Ger
 man islands south of the equator.
 avail myself ot this opportu-
 nlty 10 renew to your excellencv
 the assurance of my highest con
 sideration.
 'Conyngham Green. his Rrittan-
 nc maJesty's ambassador
 On the 21st day of February
 1917, the Japanese government re'
 pled to this communication of the
 
 (Omltted formal parD:
 The Japanese government ie
 deeply appreciatve iof the friendly
 spirit in which your government
 mas fgiven assurance. and hannv
 10 note it as fresh proof of the
 close ties that unite the two allied
 powers. l take pleasure in statine
 thatthe Japanese government on
 US part is fully prepared to sun- port Tn the same spirit the claims Whlch may be put forward at th.
 peace conference in iregard to the 1erman possessions in the islands
 south of the equator.
 French Agree to Proposals The government of the French re- pupnc IS disposed to give the Japanese government Its accord in regulating s+ ehe tinle or the peace negotiations questlohs vital to Japan concernin-r ohantung and the German islands in liie Facl1lc, north of the equator. + d.so agrees to support the demands oi the imperial Japanese government TOT the surrender of the rights Ger many possessed before the war in this ohlnese province and these islands
 M' Brland demands on the other haho' that Japan give it's support to optaln rom China breaking of it's re- iatiohs With Germany and that it gives enis ael desirable significance. The consequence of this in China sbo,,Id | be the following: 'il'' flrst handing of passports to the German diplomatic agents and consnIs
 second, the obligation of all undey, German Jurisdiction to leave Cbiness territory. 'i''iese . Ihird, the internment of German n shlps Tn Chinese ports, and the ulti- mate requisition of these ships in ordo,. to piace them at the disposal of tho aIiles' Following the example of Ttalv or Portugal. According to the infor- | matlon of the French governn,ar. lhere are b German ships in Chinese ports, totalling about 10000 tons
 Fourth requisition of German commercial houses established i,, China, forfeiting the right of Germa nv m the concessions she possesses ;n certain parts of China
 pon receipt of this communica tior the foreign minister of Japan on bo . hdi or Japan, promised compliance witn the request of the French gov erhment contained in this letter Sim liar negotiations were entered into With similar results with Italy. al- tnough the negotiations with Italy took piaee Tn Rome and not in Tokio similar agreement also was made with hussla, and it must be remembers that at that time Russia was still in the war and it was anticipated that al the close Of the war she would have a place at the peace table.
 "A Dishonorable Agreement
 Tt is thus clearly disclosed that While these leading governments of the world were inducing China to get into the war, in order that they might SC cure her assistance and particularly they might be able to get possession of the German ships in China's harbors they were secretly plotting amons themselves as to her destruction as soon as she had compiled with their wishes and the war was over. In An the annals of history, I do not believe there is recorded an instance of q more disgraceful and dishonorable agreement to carve up the territory not of an enemy. but of an allied friend
 And if we approve this wicked de- cree. is it any wicked offense, to say