The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1915. CHINA AND JAPAN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 10, 12 May 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1915. CHINA AND JAPAN.

A good deal of curiosity exists as to exactly what the demands Japan made on China were, but the Pekin correspondent of the London Telegraph gives the Chinese reply to these demands, summarised into five groups. China was prepared to grant the opening of new marts, the building of railways, the transfer to Japan of the Kiao-Chau lease, with all the subsidiary rights, provided—and tins is most important-China, in order to safeguard her rights of eminent domain, shall be represented by a special commissioner at the final peace ne gotiations between Germany and Japan. This refers to group one, covering Shantung. Group two, covering South Manchuria and Eastern Mongolia. China, though dissenting entirely from a general doctrine of special rights, such as policing and rights of a special position for -Japan in these regions, which would directly conflict, with the treaty rights of other treaty Powers, was willing to extend munedlately the Port Arthur, lease for an identical period—namely twenty-five years, and also place the AntungMukden and Changohun-Kinn vail-, wavs on the same long leases as the South Manchurian Trunk line. Also to concede general rights of ownership of land and unrestricted residence throughout to Japanese citizens. The third group, covers mining rights m the Yangtze Valley, notably the network of semi-mortgaged steel and coal enterprises around Hankow, known as the Han Yeh Ping. China expressed willingness to make a P in per and businesslike agreement satisfactory to Japan, but was unwilling to entail all the mineral deposits of the Yangtze Valley by introducing ambiguous language, such as is found in the draft treaty. I he fourth group, forbade the cession at a future date to any Power of Chinese islands or any portion of the Chinese coastline. China is in absolute agreement with Japan, but reserved the right to declare this policy to all treaty Powers alike in a circular note, which will be named the Declaration of Peking, inaugurating a new relationship with the world. The fifth group, the same authority states, covered six points, notably new rights in Enkluen province, several new railways on the Yangtze to South China, certain policing rights, as well as advisory suggestions. China declared that this must lie entirely re-drafted, il not totally deleted. China- was perfectly willing—nay, eager—that her neighbour, Japan, should share and accelerate her general industrial development, hut China argued that the day had finally arrived when secret diplomacy and secret arrangements are derogatory, and ultimately harmful to all parties alike. She believes that every right which one nation henceforth concedes to another should he freely and openly given, receiving in return the full and frank endorsement of every other Power. As the recent cables reported that Japan had greatly

■ j *4 modified her demands and China had ultimately agreed to re-dratted ultimatum, it may be presumed that something much on the above lines has been agreed to.