Evening star., 1921-12-01
REFUSAL Of PEK|NG
ON 1ST OFFER FLAT
Conference Has Accomplish
ed What Three-Month Note
Exchange Failed to Do.
BASIS OF JAPAN'S CLAIMS
Signatories of Versailles Treaty
Are Interested in Possible
Outcome.
BY JUNIUS II. WOOD.

bN u MUS II. "OoO.
China has consented to negotiate
with Japan on the return of Shan
tung. The good offices of Secretary
of State Hughes and Sir Arthur Bal
four have accomplished that much,
something which the interchange of
the four notes between Toxic and
Peking in the past three months could
not do. The Chinese press and public
have contended that the return of the
sacred province was not a subject
for discussion. 1t must be returned
Internationally. Any negotiations
could come later Japan insisted that
certain terms must be agreed to be-
fore it would be returned. Peking,
mindful of popular opinion. fatty re-
fused to meet Japan in conference
over these terms. though it twice pre-
scented memorandumS to Toxic eN-
planning why they were not accept
able.
Japan bases her possession of the
216 square miles of leased territory
around kiaochow bay, including the
city of Tsingtao and other rights
which she possesses in the Shantung
peninsula, on both the Sino-Japanese
treaty of May %, 1915 tbetter known
as the twenty one demands). and
upon the Versailles treaty of June.
1919. which awarded the former Ger
man rights to Japan. China protests
that the twenty-one demands were
forced on her and that she is not
bound by the Versailles treaty. as she
never signed it. That is the situation
in a nutshell.
Tsingtao was acquired by Germany as
naval base. ostenSibly an indemnity
from China for the murder of two mis-
Sionares. in 1897 on a ninety -nine-year
lease. Soon a railroad from Tsingtao
10 Tsinan. where it met the main line
nj rI,,, Il
two coal mines were operated by Ger
man private capital These and several
new undertakings in Shangtung are now
Japanese government activities.
Tsingtao Taken in 1914.
On November I. 1914. a Japanese land
and naval force with enough British
troops to define it as a joint opera
tion captured TSingtao. A Japanese
military administration was established
and is there still. Chinese have ASSERTED
that they Were urged not to Join the
allies by certain Interested powers in
order TO permit Japan to get estab-
lished in this new portion of the main
land. The twenty-one demands quickly
followed. and when the Versailles peace
conference took up the subject secret
Great Britain, France and Japan, prom
Using Tsingtao to the latter. The United
States did not know of these treaties
at the time she entered the war. They
",
Japan promising to voluntarily return
Shantung to China.
After the peace treaty became effec-
tive. January 1, 1920. overtures be-
tween Japan and China started. The
first formal offer was sent by Japan
September : of this year. Specifying
certain terms for the return. Peking
sent a memorandum reply October ):
Japan followed with another memo
. Tandum October 10. and PekinG came
back with it's final reply November g.
Japan repeated her terms Pcking re-
iterated its reasons for refusing to
accept them.
Treaty InHamed Feeling.
Feeling in China. which had run
high against Japan ever since the
1915 treaty, was again infiamed. Pek
ing dared not do less than fatty re-
ject the terms though diplomatic
policy might have suggested meeting
to discuss them and effect an agree
ment. The delegates at the confer
rnce have dared to take the inevitable
step. The presence of Messrs. Balfour
and Hughes at today's meeting be-
tween the two countries and their
promise to be represented at all fu
ture meetings if their presence is
needed, will go far to save the Chi
nese delegates from wrath at home.
In addition it has been announced
that the opening of discussions be-
tween the two nations alone does not
preclude bringing up a discussion of
fShantung at the conference. Tao
other powers who are signatories TO
the Versailles treaty certainly are
interested in it in so far as that
treaty is responsible for the situa
iion. However. they do not feel that
they are equally Involved in the
twenty-one demands between Japan
and China, and would like the two
interested nations to argue their re-
spective views before their differ
ences are brought before the confer
ence.
Terms Japan offered.
The terms which Japan has offered
China for the return of Shantung are:
l. The leasehold of Kiachow which
Germany held shall be restored to
China.
.. Japan will aba her plans for
Japanese or international settle
ment in Tsingtao provided China
makes it treaty territory. China shall
also open other towns in Shantung
province.
3. Operation of the Tsingtao- -Tsinan
railroad and it's mines (two of coal
and one iron) shall be a joint Chino
japanese enterprise.
4. Japan renounces personal rights
to extend loans or assistance under
the March 8. 1898, treaty.
5. Rights for railroad extensions are
transferred to the consortium.
s. Tsingtao shall be under the Chi
nese maritime customs.
T. Government administrative prop
erty will, in general, be returned to
China.
3. Japan and China shall appoint
commissioners to arrange the terms of
settlement and other matters.
o. Japan will withdraw her troops
along the railroad as soon as China
has a police force able to protect it.
organization of the police force shall
be decided on later.
Resents Being Ordered.
On face saving" principles China
resents being told to do certain
things, as clauses 2, and s. which
initiative. As to clause l. China con-
ically expired when she declared war
on Germany in 1917. that the military
occupation of her lin that instance)
and that by not signing the Versailles
tention.
China emphatically objected to
clause 3, demanding her sole opera
ton of the railroad and mines.
but allowing Japan half interest
which China had the right to pur-
chase within a certain time. She
characterized the present government
operation as unjustified even under
the German treaty. as both mines and
railroad were operated by German
private interests AS to clause z. she
suggested that IL Japan was sincere
,,,,hIic nrnnertieS OuQht he