The New York herald., 1921-12-07

council. appointments to the staff OF
The Chinese customs In Tsingtao had
always been made by China. When
negotiations were thus pending General
Kamio under instructions took pos
session of the customs offices and
seized the archives and other property
of the Chinese customs.
THE province OF Shantung was in this
situation when the Japanese minister
in Pekin. to the dismay OF China, pre-
sented to the President of China on
January Is, 1916. the now celebrated
twenty-one demands, divided into five
groups. The first group dealt with the
question Of Shantung. Negotiations ex-
tended into May. when on the 7th or
that month the Japanese Government
sent an ultimatum to China demanding
n satisfactory reply within forty-eight
hours. At the same time reports reached
Pekin OF the increase of the Japanese
garrisons in Manchuria and Shantung.
In the face of these circumstances the
Chinese Government had no other course
TO follow than to- yield TO the wishes OF
Japan. China was constrained to sign
on May %. 1915. among other Things,
treaty In respect OF the Shantung
province. accompanied by three sets of
notes.
Restftutfon II Asked.
"The Chinese Government felt COM
neIled TO give their consent. however,
unwillingly only In order to maintain
the peace of the Far East. to spare
the Chinese people unnecessary suffering,
and to prevent the interests OF the
friendly powers in China from being
imperilled at a time when they were
already engaged in an unprecedented
struggle against the central powers Tor
the vindication Of right. liberty. and
Justice. And because she felt conndent
moreover. that the Anal settlement o.
this question as Of the other questions
dealt with In the agreement made In
consequence OF the twenty-one demands
could be effected only ut the peace
conference.
"JJnder an imperial ordinance, No. 17o.
of october /, 1917. the Japanese Gov
ernment established n civil adminis
tration at Tsingtao with branches at
Fantgze, Canton, and Tsinan, all or
which three cities are situated along the
railway outside of the leased TERRITORY
and Of the fifty kilometer zone. Fangtze
the nearest of the three above mentione
cities to Tsingtao. is separated from
IL approxima tely by a distance OF ninety
miles. The Tangtze branch OF the Japa-
nese civil administration has even as
sociate Jurisdiction in lawsuits between
Chinese and has taxes levied on them
The Kiaochow-Tsinan Railway and tn
mines were also placed under the con
troll OF a railways department OF ths
civil administration.
Tho leased territory of Kiao Chow
including the bay and the islands therefr
Is and always has been an integra'
part Of Chinese territory. The nation
ality has never been in question. On
the contrary. the sovereignty of China
over the territory Is reserved In the lease
Of March 6. 1898.
THE railway and mining rights which
Germany possessed in Shant,'no province
before the war were part OF the same
grant Restitution to China of these
rights and the leased territory would
therefore be q mere act of Justice t.
her in consonance with the accepted
principle Of territorial integrity and OF
nationality. while return OF the same
to Germany. or their transfer to any
third power. would be to deny Justice
to China"