The New York herald., 1920-01-23
PLEDGES JAPAN TO
ABIDE BY TREATY
Premier Hara Says Country
viii Garry Out All Terms
of Pact.
RENEWS PROMISE TO CHINA
Leased Territory of Shantung To Be
Restored and Railway Oper-
ated Jointly.

WASHINGTON. y. c.. Thursday-De
claring that the success or failure of the
peacc treaty depended altogether on the
spirit and manner of its operation
Premier Hara in an address at the open
ing of the Japanese Diet yesterday al
Tokyo said Japan Would "be one of those
states which will strictly carry out every
term of The treaty"
The text of the Premier's speech was re-
ceiyed today at thS japanese Embassy
and made public Mr.. Hara reiterated
Japan's determination to restore the leased
territory of Kiau Chau, in the Shantung
peninsula, TO China, and said the gov
eminent was taking the necessary steps
to translate its often declared determina-
ton into actual facts"
Stick 20 PIighted Word.
1T is a matter OF regret" said the
Premier. that there are some foreign
critics who remain under the erroneous
impression that the whole province of
Shantung is involved in the so-called
Shantung question. I am happy to as
sure you that the determination of the
Japanese government to abide by its
pliShted word to restore the leased ter
ritory TO China and to work the railway
has never been shaken"
"As regards the questions. of the day"
the Premier continued, those pertaining
10 China and Russia occupy the foremost
place; they are the two great questions
of the world and of vital interest to our
own country The so-called Shan
tung question comprises in the main
questions pertaining to the leased terri
tory of Kiau Chau and the Shantung
Railway.
''The former is to be restored to China,
while the other is to be worked under a
Joint enterprise of both countries, in ac-
Cordance with the terms of the Chino
Japanese agreement of 1918. ="
Reviewing the anti-Japanese movement
in China, the Premier said China had
given assurance that it would take "all
possible measures looking TO the control
of the movement and that ''as il is be-
heved they are using their best endeavors
10 give effect to their assurance, the
japanese government is now vigilantly
watching the result"
The Premier said that. in spite OF the
persecution to which japanese were sub
iected in China and the boycotting of
japanese goods by the Chinese. the Japa-
nese government did not shut its eyes to
China's financial difficulties
The Japanese government rendered adj
vice in December. 1918. in concert with
Great Britain. France America and Italy.
10 the leaders of the contending factions
in China to put an end to their conflict
and similar advice was repeated Juno last
yet the desired peace is not within sight tc
the profound regret Of the Japanese gov
crnment and the Powers concerned.
Acts In Accord with United states.
The Russian question is a matter OF
great moment 10 Japan; with the advance
Of the Bolshevik forces very serious
situation has developed i'm Russia.
"Of late the forces of European Russia
arc on the way, while both Great Britain
and France appear to have come to de-
cision 10 render no further assistance to
Russia. The kolchak government has to
I'll appearances lost the power TO control
the situation. The Japanese government
has consistently stood for a policy of inter-
national concord in Siberia, and partcu-
larly it has taken great pains to act i'm
complete accord with America. Accord
ingly. they approached the American Cov-
crnmcnt Of late with a view TO arriving
at an understanding with them on the
question of sending reinforcements TO
places where the forces OF the railroad
guards were more or less depleted