The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-06-19
by Briggs

Okuma ministry sent the ultima
tum at the conclusion of the treaty.
but il must be noted that the Chi
nese government. previous to the
receipt of the ultimstum, agreed on
the whole with our proposal on this
point. The amendment of the treaty
sent to Japan before we sent the
ultimatum reads:
Text of Amendments.
The Chinese government pro-
claims TO recognize all the matters
that may be agreed upon between
the japanese government and the
German government respecting the
disposition of all the rights. inter-
ests and concessions. which in vir-
tue of treaties or otherwise, Ger
many possesses in relation to the
province OF Shantuns
The Japanese government pro-
claims to surrender Kiaochow Bay
to China in case the latter recog-
nized all the rights, interests and
concessions detailed in the forego-
ing article and recognizes the right
of the Chinese government to par
ticipate in the conference which will
be held for the purpose of making
arrangements between japan and
Germany
RecosniEed by China.
These proposals made by the
Chinese government before we sent
the ultimatum, and. though IL was
conditioned that Japan should sur
render Shantung and permit China
to join the conference between
hA
government recognized the DISPOSE
ton of all the affairs respecting
Shantung between Japan and Ger
many. As to the proclamation of
surrendering the lease in Shan
tung, viscount Kato. then foreign
minister, sent an instruction to Mr..
Hioki, then Japanese minister in
Pekin, stating that he intended to
surrender Kiaochow Bay to China
In case the latter government should
accede to our requests on the con-
dition that 1t would open the port
for trade and allow US to establish
an exclusive concession in the town.
The appendix to the treaty con-
cluded at that time also provides
for the disposition of Shantung.
AT any rate, it is incontestable
that the Chinese government had
recognized our succession to the
rights and interests in Shantung ac-
corded to Germany by China before
we sent the ultimatum. And yet the
Chinese delegates in the peace con-
ference distorted this obvious fact
and insisted that they were menaced
by our ultimatum to accept our de-
mand regarding the rights in Shan
tung. 1t is with regret that We find
Mr.. Lansing repeating this ground
less propaganda of the Chinese in
his memorandum.
Due to Twenty-Five Articles
DIFFICULTIES which the Japanese
delegates during the peace negotia-
tions in Paris had to meet is due to
the notorious twenty-one articles. es-
pecially those provisions which are
generally known as the No. clause,
dealing with the employment of
Japanese advisers in the Chinese
government. the cooperation Of
Sino-Japanese police in necessary
localities and other matters. We
thought this clause had been cut out
before the conclusion of the treaty.
but when the Chinese speak OF the
twenty-one articles, they always in
clude the No. S clause. and say that,
should Japan succeed to German
rights in Shantung, she would en-
deavor to realize her ambition which
is indicated in the clause.
Mr.. Lansing's suspicion against
Japan seems to have been stimu-
lated by this exaggerated propa-
ganda OF the Chinese delegates,
which resulted in his resentment
against the japanese delegation in
Paris. But the suspicion is only
natural when we think of the con-
tent of our ultimatum in which
1t was proclaimed that the Japanese
government would consider the
question set forth in No. S clause
at the proper occasion in the fu-
ture. In those days we did not at
tach much Importance to the procla-
nation, as we thought IL implicitly
indicated the withdrawal of our de-
mand.
Policy Of Kate
AS to the change in policy of
Viscount Kato toward the dispose
ton of Shantung. which was pro-
claimed. says the, memorandum of
Mr.. lansing, during, the session of
the diet in 1914. I could not under
stand what the former Secretary Of
State meant. An Investigation of
the journal of the Diet during the
session in 1914 made it clear that
the former minister. at the inter-
pellation of H ogawa, replied:
Whether the government should
return Kiachow Bay or not is
matter which VIII be settled in the
Iture. and am not in a position