KIAOCHAU

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2378, 6 February 1915, Page 7

KIAOCHAU

JAPAN'S POSITION RESTITUTION NOT IMPERATIVE Sydney, February 5. The 'Sydney Morning Herald' 6" lokio correspondent . says that Baron Kato, replying to questions in tile Diet as to whether Japan was committed to the restitution of Tsing-tao to China, gave an emphatic negative. He declared that when the ultimatum to Germany was issued, its solo object was to take Tsing-tao from Germany, so as to ensure peace in the Far East. Restitution after the campaign was not thought of, or referred to. The document in question lias' been taken up by authorities in. international law, who hold that a proposal to restore Kiaochau was made to Germany, conditional upon it being handed over by Germany without force or compensation. 1 These conditions lost their validity when Japan was obliged to declare' war. . _ If Germany insisted upon the restoration of Kiaochau to China now, it would render Japan's sacrifice of men and money of no effect, since China might cede the colony again to Germany, or some other third party, wheroas Japan was determined that it would , never again come under the jurisdiction of a third l'ower. She thus claimed that the ultimate disposition of Tsing-tao was a matter 6oleiy between China and Japan.