New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
Shantung
George W. Wickersham's View of
Japan's Treaty Rights
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of Tho Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial Of December 8
on Shantung suggests to my mind the
necessity of drawing attention to the
facts of the situation. 1t seems to me
that the circumstance that the United
States has failed to become a party to
the Treaty of Versailles in no way re-
lieves China from obligations into
which she freely has entered with
Japan and other powers. In your edi-
torial it is stated:
Japan entered the war against
Germany in August, 1914. Her first
move was to expel the Germans from
Shantung. China asked to be al
lowed to participate in this enter
prise, with view to reclaiming her
leases and concessions. Japan would
not permit this"
The historical facts are that as the
result of the attacks in China upon
certain German missionaries a treaty
was entered into between China and
Germany, dated March 6, 1898, where
by China granted to Germany the lease
of Kiaochau and certain other rights,
including authority to Germany to
build two lines of railway in Shan
tung. After the outbreak Of the war
in Europe the Japanese forces cap
tured Kiaochau and certain German
vessels, after which treaty was en-
tered into between the governments
of China and Japan, dated May 25,
1915, in and by which the Chinese gov
ernment agreed
ito give full assent to all matters
upon which the Japanese government
may hereafter agree with the Ger
man government relating to the dis
position Of all rights, interests and
concessions which Germany, by vir-
tue of treaties or otherwise, possesses
in relation to the Province of Shan
tung."
At the close of the war, by the
Treaty of Versailles, Articles 156-157,
Germany renounced in favor of Japan
all her rights acquired by virtue of
the treaty made by her with China on
March 6, 1898, and all other arrange
ments relative to the Province of
Shantung, including all railroad rights
in the Tsingtao-Tsinanfu Railway.
This treaty was voluntarily accepted
by the government Of China and that
government also became a member Of
the League of Nations, created by the
first article Of the treaty. DR.. Wei
lington Koo, now the head of its dele
cation to the conference in Washing
ton, was the leading representative of
that nation at the first meeting Of the
Assembly of the League of Nations,
held at Geneva in December, 1920, and
at that meeting China was elected one
OF the four temperament members
OF the Council of the League of Ma
tions, and accepted that election.
In a speech before the first Assem-
bly, of the League Dr. Koo, on behalf
OF his government, stated that there
were several subjects Of vital interest
to China affecting international rela-
tions which, under the provisions of
the covenant of the league, the Repub-
lie of China intended to bring to the
attention of the Assembly or the Coun-
ell; that in view Of the fact that at
this first session of the Assembly its
time was devoted, and rightly so in the
opinion of the Chinese delegation, to
perfecting the organization of the
league and its rights and duties as set
forth in the covenant, the Chinese gov
ernment would not bring those sub
jects before the Assembly at that ses-
sion, but 1t was announced that in thus
refraining from bringing those sub
jects to the attention of the league at
that time full right was reserved to
bring them to the attention of the
Council at more appropriate time in
the future. The questions thus re-