The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
DElLECATESHII
biggest STRIDE
IN CHINA TANCLE
Virtually Agree on Ulti-
mate Surrender of Ter
! ritorial Leaseholds.
Co~tsr1ed from Page One.


Rriod of years, expressly or i'm
p&iedly; they are not transferable
% a third power without the con-
ent of China Though the exercise
q Administrative rights over the
tArrftories leased is relinquished by
China to the lessee power during
De period Of the lease, the sover-
sgnty Of China over them is re-
Rrved In all cases. As Is stated in
TIE beginning. these leaseholds
we're granted by China with the sole
purpose of maintaining the balance
Of power in the Far East, not so
much between China and the other
ppwers. but between other powers
themselves concerning China. These
are all creatures of compact DIFF
fsrent from cessions both In fact
snd.in law.
twenty years had elapsed since
then and conditions had entirely al
tered With the elimination of
German menace in particular. an
Important disturbing fact to the
peace of the Far East had been re-
moved. Russia had equally disap-
peared from the scene and II could
be hoped with confidence that she
would eventually return. not as the
fromer aggressive power, but as a
great democratic nation The mis-
rule Of Manchu dynasty which had
aggravated the situation had also
disappeared. The very fact that
conference was being held at wash
layton for the purpose Of arriving
= # a mutual understanding on the
part of the powers, indicates an
-
the necessity OF maintaining the
balance of power in the Far East.
l. which was the principal ground of
the original claims of the different
powers. In the absence of that
necessity the Chinese delegation be-
lfeved that the time had come for
tie interested powers to relinquish
9eir control. over the territories
leased to them.
Leases Prejudice Integrity.
'The existence of such leased ter
1tories had greatly prejudiced
China's territorial and administra-
tive integrity because they were
all situated upon the rategical
: point along the Chinese territory.
These foreign leaseholds had be-
tsides hampered her work of ma
xrhina a virtual imperium in i'm
berto, !. E., that Is an empire with
In the same empire. There was an
,Dther reason which the Chinese del
egation desired to point out. The
shifting conflict of interests of the
different lessee powers had in
volved China more than once in
complications of their own. 1t
would be sufficient to refer here to
the Russo-Japanese war. which was
caused by the Russian occupation
Of Port Arthur and Dalny. The Kiao-
chau leasehold brought upon the
Far East the histilities Of the Eu-
/ Iopean war. Furthermore. some Of
these territories were utilized with
a view to economic domination over
the vast adjoining regions as
points d'appui for developing
spheres of interest to the detriment
of the principle of equal opportun-
ity for the commerce and industry
of all nations in hina. In the In
terest of not only China but that
of all nations in China. In the in
peace of the Far East, the Chinese
delegation asked for the annulment
and an early termination of these
leases But pending their termina-
ton this would be demilitarized,
that Is, their fortidcations disman-
tied and the lessee nations to I'M
dertake that they will not make
use of their several leased areas
y for military purposes either as ma
val bases or military operations OF
any kind whatsoever.
The Chinese delegation were,
however, fully conscious of the OBJ
legations which would fall upon
them after the termination of the
1easehOlds. The Chinese govern
rnent would be prepared to respect
and safeguard the legitimately-
vested interests of the different
powers within those territories"
France Joins in Plan.
Mr.. viviani spoke for France as
fellows: After having taken note
Of the request made by the Chinese
delegation December /. 1921, the
French delegation states that the
government of the republic is ready
TO join in the collective restitution
Of territories leased to various pow
ers in China, ii being understood
that. this principle being once ad-
mitted, and all private rights be-
ing safeguarded. the conditions and
time limits of the restitution shall
be determined by agreement be-
tween the Chinese government and
each of the governments concerned
Mr.. Hanihara stated the position
a.. Of Japan as follows:
The leased territories held by
Japan at present are Kiaochau and
Kwantung Province, namely, Port
Arthur and Dairen. It Is character
istic of Japan's leased territory that
she obtained them. not directly from
China, but as successor to other
powers at considerable sacrifice in
men and treasure. She succeeded
Russia in the leasehold of Kwan-
tung Province with the express con-
sent of China. and she succeeded
Germany in the leasehold of Kiao-
chau under the treaty of Versailles.
AS TO Kiaochau, the Japanese gov
eminent have already declared on
several occasions that they would
restore that leased territory to
China. We are prepared to come to
an agreement with China on this
basis. In fact, there are now going
Oh coAersations between repre-
sentatises OF Japan and China re-
gardinE this question, initiated
through the good offices of Mr..
Hughes and Mr.. Balfour, the result
os which il is hoped will be happy
solution of the problem. Therefore,
the question of the leased territory
of Kiaochau is one which properly
calls for separate treatment.
would Retain Kwangtuns.
The only leased territory, there