Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-30
O. X. FOR BANKERS
(ContinJIad from Pana Onal


occasion to declare for equality of
commercial and industrial opportuni-
ty, individual enterprise of all ma
tionalities in China, statement
which was regarded here as a reaffir-
nation of the John Hay policy of the
open door.
Since the conclusion of the Censor
tium however, China has shown no
disposition to accept it, and so far as
is Known has never replied to the
joint note of the American, British,
French and Japanese ambassadors in
Peking TO the Chinese government
! announcing its adoption.
The various documents made pub
lie tonight ranged from an account
or the limitations OF the project for
the pooling by banking groups of the
TOUR powers of all their existing and
futnre options in China, except those
already in operation, for the financial
assistance of China in the establish
ment OF her great public utilities. to
the text OF the agreement concluded
october Is, 1890. summary OF which
has previously been published.
Ihe greater part Of the documnets
were devoted TO the controversy en-
gagged in between the British and
American governments on the one
hand and the Japanese government
on the other in which the British and
American governments in o series of
almost identic notes refused Japan's
claims 10 special rights and inter-
ests in the Chinese provinces of
southern Manchuria and Eastern In
ner Mongolia. 1t was on account of
This claim that Japan asked eXemp-
ton of the provisions of the Censor
! tlum from these provinces.
! TO these claims of Japan, Secretary
Lansing in a letter of October IS.
1919 said ut would be a calamity If
the adoption OF the consortium were
to carry with it the recognition Of a
doctrine of spheres of interest more
advanced and far-reaching than was
ever applied to Chinese territory
/ even in the period when the break up
OF the empire appeared imminent"
Similarly. Great Britain replied
that the claim put forth by the Jap
anese government in regard to East
ern inner Mongolia, amounting to the
reservation of an exclusive interest
in q large area whose southern boun-
diaries practically envelope Picking
can not be reconciled with the main
tenance of the independence and ter
ritorial entirely of China. which ia
pan has so often pledged herself to
observe"
In identic replies to the United
States and Great Britain, Japan con-
tended that her special interests in
Southern Manchuria and Eastern in
ner Mongolia were due to their con-
tiSuity to Korea and as standing lin
very close and special relation TO ia
pans national defense and her econ
omic existence.
Both the United States and Great
Britain. then assured the Japanese
government that it need have no
reason to apprehend that the Censor
tlum would direct any activities af-
fecting the security of the economic
life and national defense of Japan"
and offered as guarantee the good
Faith of the powers concerned.
Japan finally abandoned her at =
tempts to achieve her object through
diplomatic negotiations with the two
powers and Il compromise was affect
ed by Thomas w. Lamont, if the Am
erican group, and subsequently ac-
cepted by all the groups, whereby
Japan'S rights over certain railroads
in ManChuria were acknowledged as
beyond amy jurisdiction of the con-
sortium.