Show Correspondence With China on Shantung S Published by Japan ry fly As Ofa ORIO June l 16 lIn In In In connection with the note handed to the thc Chinese Chineo T TOKIO government in Peking by hy the Japanese ambassador on Juno 14 the Japanese foreign 1 office today issued an official statement embodying embodying em em- bodying boding correspondence between Japan lupan and China on tho the subject of negotiations for t the he settlement of t the hc Shantung question This correspondence shows that in its reply to Chinas note nute of oi i fay E 22 a fundamental al already rd ai- the thc Japanese government o declared that ii agreement ready existed between China and Japan as to the disposition of the leased territory of 01 Kiao Chow in Shantung an and that Japan therefore could not nul understand Chinas China's previous declination to negotiate neg directly with wilh relative to the restoration of Kiao Chow to Ch China nu and the of inc incidental details regardless of or the fact that China Chinn had lIDo not signed the treaty of Versailles I The text of the tho foreign n office st statement cm rends reads hh Uh 5 Feat of Japon Japanese e I View Y the tho treaty of peace became When h n effective In January the German rights and anti Interests Interest In Shantung J passed Into the possession of oC Japan JUlian by hy virtue of or orthe the provisions of or the pact p The Tho Japanese Japanese Japa Japa- nese government In accordance ance with repeated declarations and pledges and with a desire and Intention to effect a restoration of Kiao Klao Chow to China and I to settle matters rR Incidental thereto in instructed In- In minister at Pekin Pe Pc- Pc tho Japanese e kin to Inform the tho Chinese government as S follows I First First Tha That t tho the Japanese government govern govern- o ern I n ment enl desiring to open negotiations I I with China relative to lo the restoration of Ki l o Chow and the settlement of oC I Incidental thereto hoping of ot the tho I thus to effect a n speedy solution entire question expresses tho the nope I I I I I Inc ino government o Will m III uio necessary preparations tor oUa tion To Iu It II II ru I roo I That Second That it Is the tho intention of or the thc Japanese government lo to withdraw Its ita troops from along alons tho the Shantung I railway as a a. matter of course upon agreement ae t bet between the t two tu u governments governments govern Jo ments regarding the disposition of oC Kino Kiao Chow In fact the Japanese government gov gov- o wishes to withdraw Its troops aH as speedily as possible even before an anI agreement Is IB entered Into hut but In iii th lh thI j of or an any competent force to lo as asI assume as- as sumo sume the dut duty of oC guarding guarding- the railway after atter evacuation it I is constrained to toI keep those troops temporarily stationed th there ro to tu Insure the security of at I. I Continued on page 3 3 JAPAN PUBliSHES SHANTUNG NOTES Continued from page 1 L. and safeguard the tho Interests of Japan and China who are copartners part co ners In a joint enterprise The rohe Japanese government therefore therefore there there- fore hoped tho the Chinese e government appreciating the Intentions of or Japan would promptly organize a a. police pollee force to replace replace- Japanese troops guarding tho the railway oven even before agreement was reported as to other details The Japanese y government was fully prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared to proceed with vU negotiations to carry out its pledges but nearly three months passed without reply It is a 3 source of deepest regret that at a a. time when whon all aU nations of af tho the world are making mak mak- ing lag efforts for the tho establishment of or enduring peace questions QUe of importance importance importance tance remain unsettled between Japan and China Speedy edT Settlement nt Urt urged Tho The Japanese government being being- all tho the more desirous of ot speedily settling settling- tho the matter for tho the mutual l benefit of tho the two countries instructed tho the Japanese Japanese Japanese Japa Japa- nese minister in Peking Peking- on April 26 to urge upon the Chinese government the importance of taking th the tho necessary steps It was not until May t 22 that the tha Chinese government replied to this requisition of the Japanese government govern govern- ment The reply was in the nature of ofa ofa ofa a request for delay the Chinese government government gov gov- t sa saying U The Tho Chinese government fully appreciates appreciates ap ap- the intention of Japan to to prepare for the tho evacuation of troops along alonS' the Kiao Klao Chow railway which is Incidental to carrying out of or the tho terms of the treaty of peace China how- how over er did not sign that treaty and Is not In a position to negotiate neg directly I I with Japan on tho the question of or Kiao Chow Furthermore the tho people Klao throughout China have assumed an in indignantly indignantly In- In antagonistic attitude toward the question For these reasons and also aleo in consideration of or the amity existing existing ex ex- between Japan and China tho the Chinese government does not find it itself itself it- it self in a position to reply at this mo mo- ment Chinese Chancre Attitude Expressed u On the tho other hand the state of or war with Germany Gennan having ceased to exist all Japanese military establishments within and without tho the leased territory territory territory terri terri- tory of ot Kiao Klao Chow are unnecessary and the tho restoration of ot war pre-war conditions conditions condi condi- conditions is heartily desired b by the Chinese government The people of China propose propose propose pro pro- pose to effect a 3 proper organization ors to replace Japanese troops in order to secure and maintain the safety of ot the whole line Ho However eer as this is t Independent independent independent inde Inde- pendent entirely of ot the question of restoration restoration restoration res res- of Kiao Klao Chow the Chinese government trusts Japan will not delay th the execution of the order for tor evacuation tion Upon receipt of this reply the Imperial Imperial Im Im- penal government of Japan a. a addressed cres ed a a. note to the tho Chinese Chinese- government s urgIng urging urging ing reconsideration This memorandum follows In Its It- note the Chinese government o stated It did not find rind itself In a tion to promptly meet tho the request t of ot Japan Inpan for the of opening negotiations looking to an adjustment of ot questions arrangements for tor which were were provided provided provided pro pro- vided for tor In tho treaty of peace CaCe with Germany This stand eland by the Chinese government s w was taken b because of the Importance it attaches to relations between Japan and China because China has not signed tho the treaty of or peace with Germany and further be because because be- be cause uso tho the people of China arc are Indig Indig- nant The uThe Jat Japanese government however however however how how- ever would point out that a a. fundamental fundamental funda funda- mental agreement exists between China and Japan as to tho the disposition of ot the leased territory of or Kiao Klan Chow Repeated declarations of ot tho the imperial Japanese government leave no room for doubt as to the singleness of purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose with which Japan seeks ec at the earliest date dale a fair all and Just settlement settlement settlement settle settle- ment of oC the question The imperial Japanese government therefore falls to understand the contention of ot the Chinese government that it does not find It convenient to negotiate directly It Is a plain and po positive fact that all the rights and interests that Germany formerly possessed in Shantung have hae been transferred to Japan in accordance accordance accordance accord accord- ance with tho the treaL treaty of peace Since the tho Chinese government go previously had consented to the tran transfer of ot those rights and In interests crests thc they have rightly come into the possession of or Japan It follows naturally therefore that these rights can not bo be affected in an anVa any anyway anyway Va way by the refusal of or th the Chinese government government gov gov- to sign the tho treat treaty of or peace Immediately upon the coming into force torce of the tho treaty of peace with Germany Germany Ger Ger- many the Japanese government go In a accordance with us its past repeated declaration and pledges proposed to tho the Chinese government that negotiations negotiations be open opened d with a view to restoration restoration restoration restora restora- tion of ot rights and interests in Shantung Shantung Shan Shan- Shantung tung under the tho understanding reached In Paris and that the they also enter negotiations over matters In connection connection connection tion with the restoration of or territory formerly leased to Germany Hoped for tor n Response pon The Tho Japanese government had hoped the Chinese government would respond readily to the proposal not notto notto notto to hesitate to open the wa way for tor the iho Japanese government go to demonstrate by concrete actions its polio policy of fairness fairness fair fair- ness and Justice towards China Contrary to expectations how however hower er the Chinese government after a delay dela of several months replied that it did not find it advisable to negotiate giving giving golVin ing in tho the reasons above stated It Is hardly necessary tj to point out therefore therefore there there- fore where rests the responsibility for tor dela delaying the settlement of ot tho the Shantung question The Imperial Japanese Japanese Jap Jap- anese government however always considering tho the amity between Japan and China Chinn hereby reiterates Its declaration that it will accept a a. proposal proposal proposal pro pro- for negotiations at an any time considered considered con con- eldered agreeable to the tho Chinese government gov gov- con I In connection with Ith the railway ay guard ar 1 along the Shan Shantung tun railways the Japanese government bo rotors refers to its note of January Januar containing the state state- ment o of its Intentions to to n Japanese 0 troops at al once l oven o before tho the conclusion of or negotiations if Ir the Chinese police force orce is is made mado competent to take over the of or guardinG guarding guard guard- ing lug mutual Interests Reference Is made to military equipment established In iii and anil around Kiao Klao Chow This constitutes additional ground for nc negotiations It is with the tho desire definitely to settle Bettle with China as to the disposition of oC this equipment that the Japanese government government govern Jo ment seeks socks to commence negotiations If It tho the Chinese government shall proceed proceed proceed pro pro- to negotiate it need hardly bo be emphasized that all uil minor questions will ill be bo solved simultaneously In conclusion while tho the Japanese government deeply regrets the enforced delay In carrying out the agreements reached at the tho Paris Parts conference It stands unchanged ed in its sincere desire to promote a n fair fl and Just solution of ot this question with tho Ito least possible deja delay and mJ to pursue a fixed policy toward China |