New-York tribune., 1920-06-25

IN one way, with the threat of popular
retrloution hanging over it. 1t de.
cnned negotiations.
China Net Treaty Signatory
The Chinese communication calls at
tention to the fact that China is not
concerned with the action of the
peace conference in handing to Japan
Germany's possession and rights in
Shantung. China was not slgnatory
to the peace treaty and is in no way
bound by it. AS for negotiations, it
says that "the strong attitude of the
entire population of China against di-
rect negotiations with your country
IS undoubtedly within the cognizance
of your eXcellency' Finally it calls
attention TO the fact that the war is
over and that there is no longer oc
casion for occupation of the territory
in question. Whatever may be the final
disposition of the City of Tsingtao it.
self. the presence of Japanese troops
on the soil of Shantung is no longer
called for and their withdrawal will be
welcomed by the Chinese, the local
Chinese authorities Of the province be-
ing authorized to take over police
functions at once.
The Chinese position, in other words
and this is the position taken by the
majority of Chinese and all foreign
residents from the beginning-is this:
Japan promised the delegates to the
Paris conference to return the former
German territory to China. Well, why
not return it? There is nothing to
negotiate. All the Japanese have to
do is embark their troops at Tsingtao.
The way to evacuate is to evacuate. 1t
is purely routine matter.
This must be borne in mind The
issue in Shantung has never been pri-
marily the territory formerly held by
the Germans. Even before they cap
tured that the Japanese had spread
themselves all over the surrounding
Chinese territory For more than five
years the whole region between Tsing-
tao and Tsinanfu, the capital of Shan
tung, has been under Japanese occupa-
tion and even civil administration.
There are Japanese troops in Tsinanfu
now where there never was a Germs r.
soldier.
Japanese Guard Railway
The Tsingtao- Tsinanfu Railway,
which during German management
was guarded by Chinese military
police, now has Japanese troops all
along its line. And this territory was
never within hundreds of miles of the
military zone. This is the territory
that really is at stake, far more than
Tsingtao. And the Chinese contention
is that whatever the peace conference
may have awarded Japan, it could not
have given it the right to occupy this
soil. and whatefer rights Japan may
claim to Tsingtao and the adjacent
region it has no rights on this soil and
about its evacuation.
1t was there originally by virtue Of
a supposed military eXigency. That
exigency ended November IL, 1918.
Japan is there yet. Why? And why
should it stipulate negotiations before
withdrawal?
The probability of Japan ever get
ting out of Shantung is as each OBJ
server thinks. My own opinion, based
on several years residence in China
and direct observation in Shantung it.
self, is that it will not-except. per
haps, in legal sense. II has too much
fixed capital there. Its vested inter
ests are too big. 1t has planted roots.
1t is plarting them now-every day.
To go now would be forfeit Of tre-
IL ndous values.
The test in any case is not geo
graphic. it is economic. Title to the
soil Of Shantung is hollow, if all the
potentialities for development are IN
Japanese control. ii all the harbor
Tsingtao are held by Japan as they
are now-of what consequence is it
whether the sovereignty of the city is
Chlna's and its administration be in
ternational? If the administration Of
the railways, which are the major
means Of communication in Shantung,
is completely Japanese and preference
in rates and speed of delivry ar given
70 Japanese freight over British and
American and Chinese, what matters
il what the railway is called?
These are the conditions that make
the Chinese fear negotiation. Unless
Japan wants concessions for getting
out. they say, what does it want tc
negotiate about? They do not want
to be committed to any discussions on
terms. They want complete liquida-
ton of the existing situation. That Is
the only kind of retrocession that viii,
be retroceSslon.
Japan Would Gain by Retiring
If there is foresight in Toxic i
there is real craftsmanship, its For
eign Office will order out of the Kiao
chau peninsula and the whole prov
ince of Shantung every japanese sol
der and official 1t will clear out a:
completely as Great Britain did out O.
Belgium. 1t would be paid manifold
and at once. 1t would cut by hal
the present undoubted hostility of The
Chinese masses. The boycott which
the Chinese have maintained agains
Japanese goods for more than yea.
is Weakening It is costing many Chi
nese much money. Given any toker
Of reconciliation they would drop it.
Conversely, so long as Japan retain!
even a small hold in Shantung it vii
have bitter Chinese enmity. 1t viii
be baked wherever Chinese can bal
it by overriding their Japanese con
trolled government. And Chinese en-
nifty is direct dollars s-and-cents los
20 Japan, boycott or no boycott. Chin
is Japan's market. The traders frs
asset is the buyers good will. Japa
may control the Chinese govcrnmen
ever so long and ever so completely y
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