New-York tribune., 1919-09-17
Assurance Sought That
Nipponese Government
is Without Aggressive
Designs on Province
President Wilson
Declines Comment
W ashington Asks Pledge
on Time China Will
Get Back Coded Area

TOXIC. Sept. 16 (By The Associated
Press). ccording to the Jill Shin
po,' the United States government has
requested a memorandum from japan
stating, first, that Japan has no ag-
gresslve designs on the Province of
Shantung; second, that Japan is to
abandon her rights to the establish
ment of an exclusive Japanese settle
ment in Using Tao, and, third, announc-
ing the exact date for the return of
Shantung to China and also the date
for the withdrawal of the Japanese
troops there
Tho newspapers point out that it will
be difficult to fix the dates, as these
must be settled by direct negotiations
between Japan and China
HONOLULU. Sept. 1s.-The United
State has asked the Japanese govern
mcnt' to fix definite date for tho
return of Kiao-Chau to China. accord
ing to cable advices received here to-
day by the "Nippu Jill" a Japanese
daily newspaper. The cable added
that the Japanese government had not
answered the communication.
President Withholds Comment
ON BOARD PRESIDENT WILSON'S
SPECIAL TRAIN, Cal, Sept. 16.-As
sociated Press dispatches quoting Jap
anesc sources to the effect that the
United States had asked the Japanese
government to set definite time limit
for the return of Mao chau to China
were shown President Wilson en- route
to California this afternoon.
The President declined to comment
on the news reports, but it was under
stood he has not yet received any in
formation from the State Department
relative to any action it may have
taken concerning the Shantung situa-
ton.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ls.-Ohcials
here, in the absence of President vii
son and Secretary Lansing, will not
comment upon the report that the
United States has asked Japan to set
definite date for the return of kao-
chau to China. The general impress
sion in official circles is that the re-
port is we'll founded
Japans answer to such request by
the government would have an i'm
portant bearing on the Senate's con-
sderation OF the peace treaty, as one
Of the objections to it on which op-
position is being centcrcd is the Shan
tung provision.
Administration supporters of the
treaty feel that definite announce-
ment by Japan setting date for the
return of kiao-chau would 90 far to
remove that point.
Time Not Set
stated that kiao- chau would be re-
turned but time never was set
Japan has replied to the United
States that she does not favor includ-
ing Mongolia and Manchuria, as
suggested by this government in a
recent note, in the terms of the con-
ccrtorium, which contemplates advanc-
ing a considerable loan to China by an
international group of bankers.
Japan says that because of the
peculiar status OF the two provinces
and the close relation they occupy to
Japan she feels they must be cx-
cludcd from the arrangement.
WATERFOWL, N. Y, Sept. 1s.-sec-
retary of State Lansing, when asked to-
day concerning the report from Homo
lulu that the United States had asked
the Japanese government to fix a def
mite date for the return of kiao-Chau
to China, said:
81 do not care to make any comment
on that. 1t is my usual practice when
away from the department not to COM
ment without full information"