JAPAN AND CHINA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 5

JAPAN AND CHINA

SHARP PRESS COMMENT URGENT QUESTION FOR THE PEACE CONGRESS By Teleeraph-Preßs Association-Copyright London, April 15. The "Daily News," in a vigorous leader, demands that tho Peace Conference shall rectify the colossal wrong under which China is suffering owing to tho Japanese refusal to leave Shantung, which raises one of the gravest problems at present before the world, involving the whole future of the Far East. "China's grievance," says the article, "is unanswerable. Japan, whose services to the Allies were inconsiderable, was extremely vigorous in the capture of Kiao- . chau. Japanese troops landed 150 miles outside the leased German territory, disregarding international law, which tho British respected. The whole of the Shantung Peninsula was, occupied, with the entire railway, and the Japanese refused to withdraw from Shantung after the .fall of Kiao-chau. Japan then presented the famous Twenty-one Points, de. manding the power to officer the army and. control the police, finance, mines, and manufacture of firearms in China. Under pressure, China agreed, and Japan to-day is practically muster of Northern China. There is grave danger that tho Chinese who fall into Japanese hands will bo exploited and militarised, and this will mean the closing of the vast resources and inexhaustible markets to Europe and America. The emergence of a new military, system of incalculable dimensions will overshadow Asia, and perhaps ultimately wreck the world. Tho moment to deal with tho menace is now. If it is allowed to develop, jt will never be overtaken. The silenco hitherto maintained regarding Japan must cease, and the issue must be faced on the clear.principle that China belongs to the Chinose, and Japan must go.'-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

rTho immediate bone of contention between China and Japan lies in the possession of Tsingtau. When the European war began, Japan saw its opportunity to further its policy of aggression in China. AU the European Powers 'holding territorial positions being engaged in war, the way was open for Japan, as one of the Allies, to serve herself, and to pay off an old score against Germany by s'eizing an important strategic European ontport in China. It has to be admitted that Japan first tried to further its interests in China by peaceful methods. It pointed out that an alliance 'of capital and organisation would be of benefit to both nations. China had the resources in land, labour, and mineral wealth: Japan could supply the business organisation and direction. But the Chinese strenuously objected. They suspected that the proposed alliance would bo an alliance of master and slave. The Japanese then put on pressure, and made their notorious demands. On January 18, 1915, two months after the fall of Tsingtau, the Japanese Minister in Peking presented these demands to tho Chinese President. The demands, if complied with in full, would have meant establishing a Japanese protectorate over China. _ As - far r.s Manchuria, inner Mongolia, and Chantung are concerned, the Chinese conceded sufficiont to make the Japanese a controlling power in thoso areas. They also acceded to demands regarding' Fukior, which gives' precedent for further Japanese interference. Over the extensive coal and iron mines, known as Han-yet-ping, the Japanese secured permanent control. They demanded also participation in the policing of some of the cities in China; tho right to supply China's army with more.than half it's munitions; (he appointment of supervisors in the Central Government; the right to send Buddhist missionaries to China, and certain railroad concessions. None of these demands was conceded, but they were tacitly recognised when the Japanese mobilised a part of their army and nnvy, ordered their citizens out of China, and sent an ultimatum to Peking. The Chinese accepted the modified terms of the. ultimatum, therein- acknowledging that thoso demands which the. Japanese Government "temporarily suspended" remained open for discussion.]