Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-17
LEAGUE HELD PROTECTION
AGAINST CF1INA'S DISRUPTION
Were japan Inclined to Keep Shantung She
Could Not, Is Claim-Tokio Word
Not Doubted-Dangers Cited.

restore kiachow and privileges so
rudely wrested from China by Ger
many. The assertion that President
Wilson agreed to the Shantung
clauses merely to obtain Japan s sig
nature to the peace treaty is not
given credence among those who are
conversant with the situation at
Paris
President Wilson is naturally thor
oughly conversant with the Lansing
| Ishii treaty. by which Japan's re-
glonal rights are recognized. ChlneSe
rights are also recognized in several
treaties that are existent today. All
of them were drafted before the war,
but none Of them conflict with the
Lansing Ishii pact. 5
President Wilson has received re-
lterated assurances from Baron Ma
kino, Viscount Chinda and high Off
Gals of Japan that this country has
never intended to do other than abide
by written and spoken pledges that
concessions, such as held by Ger
many in the Shantung province, should
revert to China.
In this connection advices which
have been received in Washington an
norncing that the Japanese delega-
tior in Paris had announced that
japan is willing to restore to China.
the concessions in Shantung within a
period of six years. are particularly
interesting at this juncture, mas
much as it is admitted even by the
critics of Japan that this would place
these concessions in the hands of
China eighty years before they other
wise would have reverted to the
Peking government under old agree
ments with Germany.
Should Get Chance, Is Claim.
There is little inclination among
the more observing peoples of Wash
ington to distrust Japan in regard
to these restorations. With Japan
committed-even by clause in the
ultimatum which she sent to Ger
many-with the word of Japans
statesmen in regard to Shantung and
carried to the forefront before, in and
after the peace deliberations in Paris.
it is generally agreed among those
who view the whole situation in a
dispassionate manner that Japan
should be given a chance to prove her
good word. That she will is general
ly taken for granted.
Japan simply is striving to move
along the same paths as other powers
in the development Of China. She
asks the same rights of participating
in Chinese loans and territorial and
commercial developments as other
nations. --.'
1t is pointed out that the British
French have their bases of regional
influence. The Germans had theirs
but this has fallen into the hands of
Japan. China is dependent upon out
side assistance.
Groups Stirring Strife.
Certain large financial groups,
which in reality would exploit China
to their own satisfaction and to the
fullest extent. fear Japan by virtue of
the proximity of Japan to China
They tactily admit the regional I'M
Outstanding" as it pertains to Japan's
interests in China's DEVELOPMENTS, it
is claimed. These interests have in
fact feared for themselves alone, it
is charged and have made every move
OF Japan in the far east the signal
for protests and much propaganda
designed to place distrust of Japan
in the hearts and minds of the peo-
pies of the world at large
1t is argued that today these inter-
ests are reaping the fruit of years of
propaganda against the japanese and
that at a moment when thorough AMIGA
bility and broadcast understanding of
issues should be held by all in regard
TO the relations of nations, that pit
1alis may be avoided. there are stern
attempts to create distrust of Japan
with consequent discord