Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-22
Japan WILL MEET
ARRANGEMENTS,
SAYS PREM|ER HARA
Reiterates Policy of Return
ing Shantung-China and
Russia Worlds Problems.

nuSSld vtUl III y ] iOOiVI''Ss
That japan has been and is always
ready to carry out to the letter her
| international engagements. and this
particularly in reference to the set
Element of the Shantung problem, was
the declaration of Premier Hara OF
Japan during his speech, occaSloneo
by the reassembling of the japanese
diet yesterday, copy of which has
( been received by the Japanese en-
bassy in Washington and made pubic
The Japenese premier makes Il
plain that the word of Japan as giver
| to the peace conference IN farl'
would be abided by. that Japan ha:
no desire to dominate the whole OF
Sbantung province; that the two mair
issues involved are those relating &c
Kiaochow and the Shantung railways
| that Kiaochow is to be restored to China
and that there will be joint Chino-Japa-
nese control of the railways.
he Japanese. since their reiterated
assurances that they will return
Shantung, have as openly pointed out
Japan's economic dependence upon
the development of China'S great re
sources, and have pointed out thai
through this dependence it is vitality
essential that the railway outlets tc
Japan through the province OF
Shantung should in a measure be con-
trolled by the Japanese In discussing
world conditions today and Japan
position Premier ara stated:
Has Met engagements.
Japan has on no occasion failed
to carry out her international en-
gagementS in Japan. and she Will be
one of those states which will strict
~ carry out every term of thestreaty.
1T is my ardent hope that, in full
appreciation of his majesty'S wishes
as expressed in the recent lmperla
rescript. the Japanese nation. abiding
and following the path of humanity,
will now put forth their best en-
deayor, both moral and material, to-
ward the advancement OF the natlonal
resources. with a view to making
whatever contribution they can 10
the progress of the world. and that
they will at the same time fully dls-
charge the obligations which they
owe to other nations
Big Questions Before World.
LAS regards the questions of the day,
those pertaining to China ana RUSSIA
occupy the foremost place; they are the
two great questions of the world and OF
vital interest to our own country.
japan entered into the great war in Au-
gust. 1914, in conformity with the terms
of the Anglo Japanese alliance Hollow
ing upon her declaration of war against
Germany. Kiauchau was captured and
the base of German influence in the
orient was destroyed. AS to the hnal
disposition of Kiauchau since the Japan
csc treaty of 1915, the statements made
last year by our delegates at the peace
conference and repeated announcements
made by myself amply testify to the
fact that this country has from the gut
set been determined to restore Y 70 CnIna
The so-called Shaatung question COM
prises in the main questions pertaining
to the leased territory of kiauchau and
the Shantung railway.
The former Is to be restored to
China, while the other is to be worked
tries in accordance with the terms OF
the Chino-Japanese agreement of 1918
Firm In Intentions.
1T is a matter of regret that there
are some foreign critics who remain
under the erroneous impression that
the whole province of Shantung is in
volved in the so-called Shantung ques-
ton. l am happy to assure you that
the determination of the Japanese
government to abide by their plighted
word to restore the leased territory to
China and to work the railway as a
Joint enterprise of the two countries
has never been shaken:
with the coming into force of the
peace treaty the former German rights
in the leased territory and the railway
have been completely transferred to
now taking the necessary steps to
translate their often declared deter
mination into actual acts.
1.-The anti-Japanese movement com
menced in China in connection with
the negotiations at Paris concerning
the Shantung question has not yet
subsidized The government has from
time to time given instructions FOL
the benefit of Picking and the con-
suls at various places to discuss the
matter with the central government
and the local authorities, respectively
with the view to the suppression OF
this unwelcome development, and OF
late further representations have
been made to the Picking government
The Chinese government has given us
assurances that they will take all pos
sible measures looking to the control
of the movement, and. as it is be-
lieved they are using their best en-
deavors to give effect to their assur.
once. the Japanese government are
now vigilantly watching the result
of the steps taken by them. l fee
persuaded that the calmness with
which our nation has faced this anti
Japanese movement and the patience
with which our people are waiting
for the Chinese people to rehect will
be certain to have commended itself
to the general appreciation of the
world. Again, in spite OF the per-
Secution to which our countrymer
are subjected at the hands of Chinese
and in spite also of the. ooycottine
of Japanese goods in China we do not
shut our eyes to China's difficulties
as she faces them today in conse-
quence of the distressing condition OF
her finances. which. if left alone
might threaten the existence of hel
government.
Ready to Aid China.
Accordingly the Japanese govern
ment. while strictly adhering to their
already announced policy of with
holding any such loans as are calcu-
lated in their opinion to foment con
| f1ict between the north and south
would be ready to render financial as
sistance to China when indispensable
| for the maintenance of her govern
ment in conjunction with other in
terested powers with view TO meet
ing our immediate requirements.
! The Japanese government tendereC
! advice in December, 1918, in concer,
with Great Britain, France. America
and Italy. to the leaders OF the con-
! tending factions in China to put ar
| end to their conflict and similar ad-
! vice was repeated June last, yet the
| desired peace is not yet In sigN. &c
! the profound regret of the japanese
| government and the powers con
cerned
"Our country stands in very clos
relations to China from geographical
historical. political and economi'
points of view. 1t is contrary TO GU
| desires that civil Strife should be pro
tracted in China for years. 1t wa
really in the hope Of facilitating rec
| onciliation north and south that W.
! have taken so much pains in contro
/ of the loans. as we'll as in restriction
on the export of arms to China, all o
! which meant no small sacrifice on tn
part of our people, and whenever SUIT
able opportunity may present itself u