Evening star., 1919-07-18
Shantung Settlement Ger
tainIy Not Later Than Year.
Says Katsuji Debuchi.
NIPPON SEEKS TO WORK
WITH U. S. IN FAR EAST
Charge d'Affaires of Washington
Embassy Discusses Position and
Desires of His Country
in Shantung.
BY OLIVER OWEN Kuhn.

BY OLIVER OWEN Kuhn.
| That Japan. if not within a period
of six months. will be able perhaps
within one year to comply with the
! treaty provision with China and re-
store Kiaochow and all heretofore
German controlled territory in Shan
tung to China. is the opinion of
katsuji Debuchi. charge d'affaires OF
! the Japanese embassy in Washington.
In elaboration of JapanS position
in Shantung Mr.. Debuchi who has
been carrying the burden of embassy
affairs since the departure of Am
bassador Ishi. made il clear that he
has no desire to enter denials OF
charges made by the Chinese for the
mere sake of waging propaganda in
I the interests of Japan. because some
of his best friends are Chinese states
men of note. Neither did he wish 10
! be placed in position of replying di-
rectly to the charges which have been
made by certa in members of the Sen
ate in regard to far eastern affairs.
He simply desired to make the truth
OF the Shantung situation known to
the American people. for. with the
truth known. much of the criticism
now directed against Japan might
disappear. MIR. Debuchi was for
long period connected with the
eign office and served in high official
| position at the Japanese legation in
Peking. He is thoroughly conversant
| with the cross tides of Chinese politi-
cal affairs and the international COM
! plicationS that have arisen in far
eastern events. particularly as they
bear upon the relations of Japan and
China.
Wants Only Good Relations
There is a will OF providence he
said. lin the relations between the
United States. Japan and China, all
washed by the same waters of the
Pacific. Japan desires nothing more
than perpetuation of the good relation
ships between our country and the
United States. We desire not to antag-
onZe but only strive to work hand in
hand with the United States in the de-
velopment of China Japan's special
interest in China has been recognized.
Japan cannot alone ever expect to de-
velop China. If China is developed as
we would wish it must be by the COM
bined effort and capital of the United
States and Japan. who are in best po-
sitfon to carry on this work. Japan only
desires cooperation with the United
States in the bringing forward the won
derful resources of China, develop
ment which will react to the best inter
est of China and the world at large
! That Japan has made some mistakes
in negotiations which have gone on be-
tween Japan and China in the past is
admitted by Mr. Debuchi Just as it has
been admitted by Baron Maxine and
others of the Japanese peace delegation
in Paris. Mr.. Debuchi cites the fact
that the broadest and most liberal view
points of Japanese and world develop
ment along democratic lines now
held by the government in power in
TOXIC. In this regard he said.
Will Not Trample Ideals.
! IT is absurd to believe that japan
is an autocratic and militaristic coua-
try which will ruthlessly trample
down the ideals now set for world
civilization. Liberal and progressive
movements are gaining in power in
Japan-the present cabinet is organ
lied by the first commoner. Mr.. Hara.
who formerly was a diplomat and
chief editor of an influential news
paper in Japan. The liberal policy
already followed and that which is
about to be placed into effect in re-
gard to China and Korea is well
known by every one who has knowl-
! edge of affairs in the far east.
I'm regard to Shantung: Our gov
/ ernment by treaty with China and
by declarations subsequent to its
signing in 1915. will return the things
we have promised And remember
always-there has been much con
/ fusion in the American mind - the
real issues center about kiachow
/ and when we speak of the kiachow We
do not speak of Shantung.
"Kiachow has an area OF but 20S
square miles and a population OF
some 10000 Shautung province, which
is about the size of the state of Illinois
has J5,9S4 square miles and a popula
ton OF 0.O00, 900
"kiaochow. with Tsingtan. during
The period of German occupation was
fortified hv the Germans. and public
! works were erected for permanent
tenure. The port by virtue of FORT
fcation was constantly the subject
of annoyance to all nations VINO
wished to use it. II never, III the
accepted sense. was d free port Tic
Germans completely dominated thai
territory. Civil and legal as well as
iurisdictionaI rights were kept
strictly in German hands The rights
of the Chinese were ill considered.
Chinese ever were trampled upon.