The New York herald., 1921-12-04


Russian soldiers traversing the Man
I3aIny to join the Trans-Siberian Rail-
way and Vladivostok.
This was later the cause of the Russo
japanese war, which resulted in 1905 in
the transfer of those territories to Japan
With the consent of China. Following
the lease of Kiaochow Bay 10 Germany
anu that of Port Arthur and Dalny to
Russia, France obtained from Ehina. .,on
April %, 1898, the lease of Kwang Chou
Wan. on the coast of Kwangtung prov
ince, for ninety-nine years, and Great
Britain the lease, also for nlnety-nine
wears, of an extension of Kowloon, and
the adjoining territory and waters close
to Hong Kong on June 3, 1898, and the
lease of the port Of Weihaiwei, on the
coast of Shantung on July l, 1898, for so
long a period as Port Arthur should re-
main in the occupation of Russia.
Both Great Britain and France based
their claims for the leases on the
ground of the necessity of preserving
the balance of power in the Far East.
Leases Non-Transferable.
II he might be perfni tied to go into the
history of the question aet might add that
while the measures and extent OF con-
troll by the lessee powers over the leased
territories vary in different cases the
leases themselves are al eiimited- to a
fixed period of years, expressly or i'm
pliedly they are not transferable TO
third Power without the consent of
China. Though the exercise OF admins
rrative rights over the territories leased
Is relinquished by China to the lessee
Power during the period of the lease the
Sovereignty of China over them is re-
served in all cases. As is stated i'll the
beginning these leaseholds were granted
~ China with the sole purpose OF mainr
tsining the balance of power in the Far
Hast. not so much between China and
other Powers but between other Powers
themselves concerning China. These are
hll creatures of compact different from
sessions both in fact and in law.
Al Twenty years had elapsed since then
hnd conditions had entirely altered. The
elimination of German menace in par
Yicular, an important disturbing fact to
lhe peace of the Far East, had been re-
.1oved. Russia had equally disappeared
srom the scene, and ,it could he hoped
svth confidence that. she would ,eventu-
billy return, not as the fol7nel" aggressive
Power but as a great democratic nation.
Zine misrule of the Manchu dynasty,
which had aggravated the tsItua ton, had
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this conference was being held at WASH
ington for the purpose of arriving at
mutual understanding on the pact OF the
Powers indicates an added reason for
dispensing with the necessity OF main
slining the balance Of power in the Far
East which was the principal ground
81 the original claims of the different
Powers. In the absence of that neces-
sity the Chinese delegation believed that
d. =
Powers to relinquish their control over
1he territories leased to them
Annulmcbt Asked. y - 81.
3 The existence Of such leased terri
tories had greatly prejudiced China's
territorial and administrative integrity
because they were all situated upon the
ftrategical points along the Chinese ter
citory. These foreign leaseholds mad be-
Sides hampered her work of national de-
sence by constituting in China virtual
emporium in imperio. that is. an empire
within the same empire. e."
;, There was another reason which the
Chinese delegation desired to point out.
The shifting conflict of interests of the
different lessee Powers had involved
China more than once in complications
Sf their own. 1t would be sufficient to
hefer here to the Japanese war,
(which was caused by the. Russian, occu-
patton of Port Arthur ard-Delny. Phe
1<iao-chow leasehold breught upon the
1rar East the hostilities of the European
war. Furthermore, some of these terri
zories were utilized with a view TO eco
1omic domination over the vast adJOn-
ing regions as points d'appui for dcvel-
;opng spheres Of interest to the detri-
onent Of the principal OF equal Opportu-
ynty for the commerce and industry of all
nations IN China. In the interest Of not
souly China but that OF all nations, espe-
sially for the peace pf the Ear East. the
sChlnese delegation asked for the annul-
Snent and an early termination uf these
leases. But pending their determination
Nhis would be demilitarized, that Is, their
Qualifications dismantled and the lessee
NATION TO undertake that they viii not
make use of their several leased areas
,ior military purposes either as naval
sbases or military operations OF any kind
:whatsoever.
\ The Chinese delegation were, however
fully conscious of the obligations which
Mould fall upon them after r,the tsfmina-
1ion of the leaseholdsls The Chinese
Government would be prepared TO re-
.spect and safeguard the legitimately
vested interests Of the differen. Powers
within those territories.
& Mr.. viviani spoke for France as fol-
lows:
after having taken note of the re-
puest made by the Chinese delegation.
Dccember /, 1921, the French deiesa tion
States that the Government OF the re-
public Is ready TO join in the collective
s~siitution of territories leased 10 various
Powers in China. It being understood
rnot, this principle, being once admitted
pnd all private rights being safeguarded.
ihe conditions and time limits Of the
restitution shall be determined by agree
snent between the -Chinese Government
and each OF the Governments concerned"
I Mr.. Hanihara stated the position jof
gapan as follows:
''The leased territories held by Japan
III present arc Kiaochow and kwantung
province namely Port Arthur and
Dairen. u vs. Characteristic Of Japan's
leased territory that she obtained them
siot directly from China but as sue
ccssor 20 other Powers az considerable
sacrifice n men and trcasure. She sue
spcded Itlsla IN the lcaaehold OF kwan-
,.iufE., pa3 tnce with theiexprors eonscui
tf China and she succeedcd Ueriiiany In
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