New-York tribune., 1919-02-17
Shantung Offered
TO Japan by China
For kiao-chau Port
Secret Agreement Sought
in 1915 for Disposition
of German Possessions
Disclosed in Washington
Mem York Tribune
IFIshir CtO31 Bnre1f,

WASHINGTON, Feb 16.-China was
prepared in 1915 to give full assent to
any arrangements which might be made
between Japan and Germany for dis
position of all German interests in the
Province of Shantung, provided Japan
when such assent was given, would re
store to China the German base at
Kiao-chau and recognize the right Of
China to participate in the Japanese
German negotiations
This fact is disclosed in the full
text, obtained here to-day, Of the agree
nlent which China proposed to Japan in
that year as a counter proposition to
the famous GROUP ' demands" in the
twenty-one demands made upon China
by the Toxic government.
The Chinese proposal, hitherto Sc
cret, is embraced in five groups of ar
tlcles, the first article of Group |, re
lating to the above stated agreement
regarding the disposition of German
possessions in Shantung and the res
toration OF Kiao-chau. Article II Of this
group obligates japan to indemnify
China for losses due to the Japanese
military oncrations in kiao-chau.
Transfer of Territory Barred
Article III pledges China not to dis
pose of any territory in Shantung to
another power by transfer, lease or
otherwise. Under Article " China, in
the event she wished to borrow money
to build a railway from Chefoo to
Lungkow to connect with the Kiao-chau-
anese capitalists, provided Germany
were willing to abandon her right to
finance the Chefoo- Weihsien line
Article V required China TO open up
shantung for trade with foreigners
under regulations approved by the jap
anese Minitser. Article VI contains
a proviso nullifying the agreements set
forth herein, if the subsequent negotia-
tons between Japan and Germany
failed of definite understanding.
The eight articles under Group II
deal with arrangements in South Man
churia, as follows:
Extending to ninety-nine years the
lease to Japan OF Port Arthur and
Darien and the terms of the South
Manchuria and Autung- Mukden rail
ways; giving Japanese subjects the
right to lease land and enjoy all other
privileges of residence, travel, indus
try and commerce in South Manchuria.
but obligating them to observe Chinese
police laws and regulations and pay
Chinese taxes; Japanese to be tried in
civil and criminal cases by their own
courts until such time as the Chinese
judicial system should be reformed.
after which all such cases would be
tried in Chinese courts; provision for
radical revision Of the Kirin- -Changchun
railway loan agreements; right to
Japanese TO work mines in South Man
churia; preference to Japanese CAPT
taists for any foreign loans for South
Manchuria railways; preference by
China TO Japanese in the selection OF
foreign advisers and instructors in re-
gard to political, financial, military and
police affairs in South Manchuria; /;
preference to Japanese capitalists
where foreign loans may be needed for
construction of railroads in Eastern
inner Mongolia and opening up of that
section to foreign trade.
Naval Bases Prohibited
Group III requires China's assent to
joint arrangements between Japan and
Han Meh Ping Company. Group " is
a stipulation tina. China will not trans
fer or lease to any other power the
bays, harbors or islands along the
coast of China. Group V is an engage
ment by China never to permit a for
eign power to construct shipyards, mill
tary coallng stations, naval bases OF
other military establishments on the
coast of Fukien Province and not to
attempt to build such herself with for
elgn capital.