JAPANESE IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2418, 25 March 1915, Page 5

JAPANESE IN CHINA

CRITICISM IN THE FOREIGN COMMUNITIES Toklo, March 23. Japanese notion in regard to Shantung and Tsingtau lias aroused much criticism among the foreign communities in China. British traders remember that Korea, once open to trade, is now barred by the Japanose tariff. Iho Japanefio are similarly favoured in Manchuria. The harbour inouth at Shantung is blocked b,v three vessels which were sunk by the Germans. Until the main harbour is available the Japanese have agreed to four British ships entering monthly. Many Japanese are swarming to Tsingtau, where the worst of the undesirables hove looted i'roely. Neuter's correspondent, writing from Tokio at the beginning of the year, conveyed what he described as "a definite statement of Japanese policy with regard to Tsing-tau. He said: Tsing-tau was held by Germany under a lease of 99 years, granted by China some fifteen years ago. The seizure of the property does not cancel the lease 011 either side. China has no claim just now, however, on Tsing-tau. China surely has no interest except what is reversionary. Tsing-tau ultimately must be returned to China, it is true, but Japan in loyalty to her Ally cannot return now to China property and interests that must be considered, still as of debateable ownership. Can Japan be expected without more ado or settlement to hand back to China this leased territory wliich Japanese and British troops au3 ships invested and blockaded for about two months at a cost of perhaps five millions sterling? But Japan will keep her word. She would have observed the terms of the ultimatum if Germany had quietly and peacefully handed over the fortress before September 15. The treaties Japan has made with Great Britain and with America to preserve the territorial integrity of China will be kept as surely as Japan has kept all other treaties and agreements. None of the treaty-making l'owers up to the present has successfully laid at the door of Japan the charge of the breach of a single one of her international treaties or of any agreement she is in national honour bound to uphold and maintain.