Australia

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 6 February 1915, Page 5

Australia

FURTHER TROOPS OFFERED. ACCEPTED BY THE WAR OFFICE. Received 5, 9.10 p.m. Melbourne, February 5. The War Office has accepted the Commonwealth's offer to despatch a further 10,000 troops in April, in addition to monthly reinforcements. The Customs Department has withdrawn the permission to expor 1 ; merino wool to America. KIAO-CHAU. TO BE HELD BY JAPAN.

I Sydney, February 5. I The Herald's Tokio correspondent says that Baron Kato, replying to questions in the Diet as to whether Japan was committed to the restitution of Tsingtao to China, gave an emphatic negative. He declared that when the ultimatum to Germany was issued the sole object was to take Tsing-tao from Germany and to ensure peace for the East. Restitution after the campaign was not thought of or referred to in the document. The question had been taken up by authorities on international law, who held that the proposal to restore Kiaopliau was made to Germany conditional on its being handed over without force or compensation. These conditions lost validity whe n Japan was obliged to declare war on Germany. Baron Kato insists that to restore Kiao-chau now would render Japan's sacrifice of men and money of no effect, since China might concede it again to Germany or some other third party, whereas Japan liad determined that it never again should come under the jurisdiction of s> third Power. Japan thus claimed the ultimate disposition of Tsing-tao. Tin; matter was solely between China and Japan. OUR LITTLE BROWS' ALLIES. EMPLOYERS AND ENLISTMENT. Sydney, February fi. Several more Japanese, business men have arrived with the view of promot-. ing trade with Australia. The Employers' Federation passed u resolution, protesting against the clause in the Defence Department's contracts empowering a trade's union walking delegate to inspect the work, also against the industrial competition of the Government with private enterprise. A resolution was passed to the effect that in order to encourage enlistment employers should be urged to assure preference of employment after the war to all employees who have joined the colours.