New-York tribune., 1921-12-01
Japan Will
ArIpitrate ON
Shant11ne g
Continued srom oass ons>

tung marks the early stages Of China's
history. 1t is tho home of 10000 900
Of her subjects. Moreover, it is looked
upon throughout the empire as the
Chinese holy land. for in the heart OF
it rises one or the loftiest of China's
FIVE sacred mountains and nestled at
the foot Of that mountain is z little
village whrcg, tradition says, marks
the birthplace and burial ground of tho
sage Confucius.
Vital Interests Involved
Commercially China S demand Tor
the return OF Shantung involves in.
terests of vital importance. ALTHOUGH
referred to as the shantune contro.
versy the question. in fact, concerns
only small part of the $4,000 square
miles in the province. 1t has to do
with the port of Tsingtao. the territory
around 1t known as Kiaochau. the
Shantung railway, which runs 255
miles into the interior to Tsjnan. and
various coal mines contiguous to the
railway.
Taken by Germany in 1898, in repara-
ton for the killing Of two German mis-
sionarics the year before, the port of
naval base. The killing of the mis-
sionaries was pretext. Germany hay
ing for several years been inspecting
the Chinese coast with view of OBJ
tanning hold there. Great Britain
had taken Weihaiwci, on the yellow
Sea, under a ninety nine-ycar lease.
and Russia at that time was regarded
as casting envious eyes on the Pacific
With the opening of the World War
Japan seized Tsingtao, the surrounding
district and the railway She said at
the time that her tenure Of the PROV
ince was to terminate with the war
to China. The Versailles Treaty, at
Japan's instance, upset the plan, and
the Japanese occupation Of the province
with troops and civil administration
was confirmed.
Chinese Delegates Pleased
Undisguised pleasure at America i
handling of the Shantung issue was
the answer the Chinese delegates gave
tonight to questions concerning the
probable outcome. "America and Great
Britain have offered their friendly
Offices and we have accepted them"
said DR.. Wang Chung Hui, the Chinese
Minister Of Justice. I'VE had no init
nation that any such action was con-
templated. Japan wanted to settle the
question either in Toxic or Pekine.
The Chinese people would not be salts
fed with any such arrangement. They
wanted it to be settled in an open dis
cussion. Now we will get it.
only last October we declined an
offer to settle. Japan proposed that
we should make Kiaochau an open port.
We said that should not be condition,
for it should be China's right to deter
mine whether it would be an open port.
Japan wanted joint Japanese Chinese
control of the railway. That was not
acceptable at all
China wants Shantung returned un-
conditionally. We want the port, the
kiaochau district, the railway and the
mines free Of Japanese control. OF
course, it is not the intention to con-
iiiscate any vested property. China
intends to pay in full"
OF almost equal importance to the
Shantung issue was the official atti-
tude Japan took to-day before tho Far
Eastern Committee on the Chiuese de-
mand for the withdrawal of foreign
troops. Masanao Hanhara, speaking
for Japan, said his country was ready
to withdraw Japanese troops from
Shantung as soon as China gives evi-
dcnce that the Chinese police force
has been sufficiently organized to pro-
tect the railway.
From other parts of China Japan, he
declared, is not willing to withdraw
its armed forces. "'Ihe maintenance
of troops along the South Manchurian
Railway stands in different light"
said Mr.. Hanihara. 1T is a measure
of absolute necessity under the exist.
ing state Of affairs in Msnchuris, a