New-York tribune., 1919-09-04
iosuko Matsucka, Peace Del.
egatc o" Visit Here, Says
Nations National Pride
Should Be Respected
'Will Return Shantung''
Predicts Negotiations Will
BE Opened With Chinese
Within Next Few Months

Possibility that Japan would resent
'he threats made against her and
pressure brought to bear by other ma
Nons to force her to rolinquish immc-
diately the former German rights in
Shantung to China was expressed YES
ter@ay by Yosuho Matsucka Under
Secretary cf State for FOREIGN Affairs
N the Toxic Cabinet and a member of
the Japanese peace delegation. Mr..
Matsuclia arrived in New York on
Wednes sday from Paris on mis- way to
Japan.
The solemn pledge which Japan mas
given China before the whole world
will be carried out under all circuln-
stances,' said Mr. Matsucka. Gut the
execution OF the pledge would be
greatly facilitated and expedited if the
outside world would desist from utter
ing threats against Japan and attempt
ing to apply pressure upon her
The Japanese are human. They
have their national pride, and their
sense of national dignity. should be
respected. No nation that has been
course of great powers can. without
sense Of humiliation, bow its head to
the threat directed against her by
the ottsid world threat which has,
in Japans judgment, no justification
whatever.
II am amazed to hear that doubt is
still entertained in many quarters as
to Japan's intention to restore Kiao-
chau to China.
ITO US who have participated in the
peace conference there is not the
shadow of d doubt that Japan will
withdraw from Shantung at the earliest
possible moment. l should not be sur
prised II our government opened
within very few months, or even a
few weeks, negotiations with the Chi
nese government with view to set
tlng the Shantung question in way
satisfactory to all concerned.
The terms on which Japan will re-
store Shantung to China now are fairly
we'll known to the world. Briefly, they
are:
First: Japan is to return Kiao-
chau, the German leased territory, to
China. German right over this ter
ritory was nothing less than SOW
creignty, because Article of the
hino-German convention Of March 6
1893, Enthusiastically states that the In
perial Chinese government will abstain
from exercising sovereignty in the
ceded territory Moreover, on April
27, 1898, the German government de,
clared this leased territory a German
protectorate.' Japan will restore to
China sovereignty and its full exercise
over this territory.
Second: In returning Kiao-chau,
Japan. in the interest of all nations
asks only one thing, namely, that the
territory be open to international
trade. 1t is only as q naturally corol-
larry of this proposed measure that
Japan also desires to establish an in
ternatlonal, not a Japanese. settlement
IN the city Of Tsingtao.
Third: Japan will withdraw all her
troops. not only from the railway zone
but from Tsangtao. After the 'restitu-
ton of klao-chau not single Japan
ese soldier will be left on the sol. OF
Shantung.
Fourth: The shantung Railway OF
270 miles will be operated not by Japan
but by Chinese-Ja Japanese Joint cor.
pcration, in which both japanese ant
Chinese capital will be represented
China will have a voice in the manage
ment OF the railway. 1t is proposed
to employ Chinese in the operation OF
the railway
Fifth: Japan will withdraw bel
police forces from along the railwa,
and intrust the Chinese authoritie:
with the policing Of that region The
japanese civil administration will BIZ
abolished with the restitution of Kiao
chau.
81 do not wish to say that these will
be the exact terms, but | am prepared
to declare that our overture to China
VIII be along these lines