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Show JAPANESE NOT IN FIGHT WITH GERMANS Tokio. Dec 10 The British government govern-ment has communicated to Japan an official account of the sinking on December 8 off Falkland islands in the South Atlantic of the German cruisers Bcharnhonit, Gnereenau and Leipzig, with a loss of about lS.no men. The reports make no mention by name of the British warships which took part in this engagement The Japanese naval authorities say no advices concerning this combat have been received from the Japanese warships on patrol in southern waters, wa-ters, consequently that they did not take part in the action The British squadron in the south Atlantic, according to information given giv-en out here, was reinforced recently by several vessels armed with guns of heavy calibre Washington, Dec ft The statement bv Baron Kato. the Japanese foreign minister in the diet yesterday that fapan had no promise to any country coun-try to return Kiao Cbow to China, attracts much interest in official circles cir-cles hero. Secretary Bryan would not comment today and referred in-aulrers in-aulrers to statements already made When Japan delivered her ultimatum to Germany demanding the evacuation of Kin Chow, the statement was published pub-lished that the territory would be returned re-turned to China. That, it was later pointed out. was upon the supposi tion that Germany would comply I with the terms of the ultimatum and voluntary turn over the territory. However as Japan was put to a general gen-eral military campaign to get pos session of Kiao Chow, one contention now in the Japanese mind la that th? original pledge was not biuding After the entry of Japan Into the war Count Okuma, the premier, in reply to an Inquiry", announced that Japan had no intention of securing territorial extension as a result of the war Kiao Chow was not specifically specific-ally mentioned although It might have been inferred that it was included. in-cluded. H may be stated authoritatively authorita-tively that, while Japan has not formally for-mally undertaken to surrender Klr.o Chov she has by no moans officially committed herself to its retention. Practically. It has been decided that thiB questlou munt await the end of the war for its answer, because to diplomatists there would not only aeem to be prudent In view of the uncertain Issue of the hostilities, but for the further reason that Japan realizes re-alizes that her allies may properly claim a voice In determining the fu ture of those possessions. The fact that Great Britain participated ac-tlvely ac-tlvely with her troops and ships in the capture of Kiao Chow 1s referred to as supporting that position |
