Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-08
JAPAN PERSISTS
IN PACIFIC CLAIM
Insists on Possession of
Marshall and Caroline
Groups of Islands
ASKS NO CHINESE LAND

| Paris, Feb. s.-Baron Maxine. senior
| Japanese delegate to the Peace Confer
ence. has made public a statement as
| to Japan's position at the conference
He outlines the main facts in the his
tory Of the last twenty years since the
Chino-Japanese war. describing Ger
many's efforts to establish herself in the
Far East and giving in some detail the
claims of Japan to Pacific island groups
located north of the Equator
Referring to the Marshall and the
caroline groups of islands as peopled
by wild and virtually savage tribes,
Baron Maxine says:
We claim the right TO occupy these
Islands for purposes of peaceful develop
rnent. A national sense of dignity in
spires the whole people OF Japan to the
conviction that any other disposition
would be n reflection on us. and the
handing over of the supervision Of these
islands would be just recognition of
what services we rendered in maintain
ing the commerce OF the Pacific and
assisting our allies in the Indian Ocean
and the Mediterranean
we contend and shall continue to
contend. that Japan should control the
islands north Of the Equator and that
the future of the wild tribes inhabitng
the islands must depend upon the de-
Nelopment of their civilization, n de-
velopment which Japan most certainly
! will not retard."
After outlining the successive sur
renders by Japan in the interests Of
peace after the Chinese war and the
waving OF all money indemnity follow
| ing the war with Russia, the statement
comes up to the taking of Tsing-Tao
| from Germany after Germany had re-
fused to accept the utimatum of Au-
gust, 1914, under which Japan demanded
| that Germany vacate Tsing-Tao.
Japan is now pledged to return to
| China this harbor and port built with
| German money. together with the ter
ritory Of Kiao-Chau, which China will
receive eighty years sooner than she
could possibly have secured it," the
| statement continues. otherwise the
| treaty Of 1915, under which this restora
! tion is TO be made. contains no secret
| clauses and an agreement entered into
in September, 1918. regarding future
| Chino-Japanese cooperation in Shantung
contains no stipulation which is more
or less than just and mutually help
full settlement of outstanding questions,
These documents, with all their
clauses, have been laid before the Pow
ers, including America. Japan does not
seek more than a fair division in this
work of development. We realize that
a great change has taken place in the
dealings between the nations to be rep
resented in the league OF nations. II
that league is to be of any value its
rules must prohibit selfish aggression
exploitation and discrimination. We
seek no territory in China and ask only
for friendly cooperation and the main
tenance of peaceful relations"
After a brief reference TO Siberia,
in which the Baron points out that
Japanese troops were sent with their
own agreement with those Of the United
States and the Allies, he says:
I'VE have now withdrawn the major
portion of these troops and we will be
glad when the day arrives on which
all troops may be withdrawn and an
orderly government set up in Russia