The New York herald., 1921-09-27

the Japanese General STAFF and its
agents are putting the screws on offi-
cials OF the Chinese Government whose
function II is 10 move in the matter
In the meantime Japan is making the
most OF the advantage afforded her
Ter Japanning Shantung and laying
the foundation for supreme economic
control. Some OF the most influential
business concerns in Japan have taken
over valuable properties in Tsngtau,
and are establishing branches of Jap
anese houses for securing the best
--part OF the trade in the Shantung
peninsula.
Opening Up Shantung.
---s' During a recent visit l met on the
trains and steamers the emissaries of
Japanese houses who admitted that
.sthey were. engaged. in opening up"
EShantung. Japan interests even now
~control and operate the railroads,
mines and other rich concessions de-
by Germany. One Of the Jap
seanese business men who was return
eapg from Tsingtau frankly predicted
s~Ahat within two years "Shantung will
be more Japanese than Chinese" He
added the Information that it would
require several years of adjudication
to restore. to the original owners the
control OF some of the most valuable
properties in the peninsula which are
now held by Japanese.
Other impartial authorities with
whom have talked say that universal
public sentiment may eventually COM
pei Japan to return Shantung to
China But they are quite confident
that If she does so China will get little
more than an empty title and And that
most of the things worth having in
Shantung have, by the devious proc
esses of diplomacy and military power
in-the exercise Of which Japan Is cred
tied with being adept, been wrung
,.a-~from the rightful owners under one
pretext or another.
sss--'I Inquiry at Toxic regarding the sta
tus of the Shantung province is in
variably met with vague and evasive
replies. These. in substance. are that
II Is up to China and not Japan. be-
cause Japan is ready to negotiate for
the return Of the Shantung peninsula
and China will not agree to do so
The one definite idea to which China
has persistently ,ciung is that there
~ HutHlIlG " %HsEOlldte. lHe TeCOTl
confirms the contention Of China
rather than, that of Japan. The Jap
anese Government assured President
Wilson that it did not desire political
control over Shantung. but was
merely ambitious to assist in its
economic development" There is
substantial proof to Justify the state
ment that she Is proceeding with the
economic development of shantung by
compelling the Chinese to sell Jap
anese through financial interests, the
mining and commercial properties. and
in some instances these agents. favored
by the military authorities, have seized
properties without paying for them.
Chief Stumbling Block.
The chief stumbling block in the
way of Japan's ambition to secure
economic control In Shantung and
other parts of China was the attitude
Of the u. 5. Government in advising
China not to assent 10 Group v. In
the 21 Points agreement, forced from
China by Japan as the price of the
latter governments participation in
the World War
Great Britain and other countries, as
sented to the acceptance by China OF
all Of the other groups In the twenty
one points agreement, with the excep-
ton of group ". which would have
given Japan the right to use her mill
tary power to promote her economic
ambitions, and to very large extent.
a very great influence in shaping the
political policies of China.
The objection, of the Washington
Government to the group V. clause in
the China-Japan agreement was most
disconcerting to the Mikado's Govern
ment and has undoubtedly exercised a
distinct influence over the relations
between the two governments. Japa-
nese statesmen have, in fact, declared
the attitude OF the United States to
have been an international imperti-
nencc.'
The belief strongly exists at Pekin
and, to some extent. at Toxic that
Japan, realizing the instability of her
position in Shantung, is preparing 20
volunteer some window dressing" In
advance of the Washington arma-
ment conference. Ii is expected by
competent authorities at both the Chi
nese and Japanese capitals that Japan
win comply with the Chinese demand
for the surrender OF Shantung. with
the maximum Of Objectionable condi-
tons.
The fact is that Japan has already
paved the way for making it as hard
for China as possible by sending a
peremptory request TO the Pekin Gov
ernment for the payment of approxi-
mately $3.50. 900, O00 loaned at various
times for railroad development China.
which is burdened with huge pile OF
debts aggreEating 10000. .0oo.0 900. will
probably not be able 10 repay the
Japanese loans. much less the stag
Eering bill which the Miltado's Gov
ernment win undoubtedly send In for
administering affairs In the Shan
tung peninsula.
circumstances of the Loans.
The loans which Japan insists China
must pay forthwith were arranged be-
tween the two Governments under cir
cumstances that suggested little credit
TO either. The Chinese officials who
solicited and received the Japanese