JAPAN AND CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 249, 30 March 1915, Page 5

JAPAN AND CHINA.

DEMANDS FOB IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS.

PEKIN GOVERNMENT'S .■GRBA& ...' CONCERN. ■'

'I he following appeared in tho N<;W York Evening Post, on 18th Februa-.y, v having been telegraphed .from Pekin on U.e previous day:— If information from presumably wellinformed sources, both foreign and

Chinese, is correct, the nu'inorandum_reeently given by the Japanese Legation to the diplomatic representatives hen* of the United States, Great Britain, France ( i' and Russia, respecting the demands of the Tokio Oovernmcnt on China, omits certain of the requirements origina'iy ■ presented to Pekin.

These negotiations, which began latfl in January, had for tlieir object the determination of the future status of Japan's relations with China, and a decision respecting certain questions re-' garding the future development of the • Chinese Republic. Their course has been, guarded with great secrecy. The Pekin Government did not eonceal its concern over.the situation thiiß •'. brought about, and on Bth February Suu Pao-C'hi, the Chinese Foreign See- „ * rctary, in conference with the Japanese.. ■,*-' Minister at Pekin, rejected Japan's proposals on the ground that they were incompatible with China's sovereignty, and conflicted with existing treaties between China and other foreign Powers. The Japanese Minister then asked for »H acceptance in principle, stating that tI(C ''■ deatailcd negotiations could be conduct- - ed later; but the Pekin Government 1C- " turned the same answer as to the ;)rin« - ciples involved.

ORIGINAL DEMANDS FARREACHING.

The original demands, according to information from Pokin sources, wore twenty-one in number, and were farreaching, both in their political and eonmercial aspects; but it is not known whether the original demands were made orally or in a formnl written coni: munication. The memorandum as hatulcd to the Legations of the United State*, Great Britain, France, and Russia, is understood to contain only eleven demands substantially as follow: In relation to Shantung, Japan asks that China transfer to her all rights nnd concessions previously enjoyed by Germany, and requires China to consult Japan on all matters previously agreed upon between Germany and China in the province of Shantung. Chilians to agree not to alienate or lease Shantung or any part of the coast on any pretext (o any foreign Government, and similarly no island near Shantung is to be leased to any foreign Power.

PORTS AND RAILWAYS WANTED.

That certain cities ?n the province of Shantung shall be opened as treaty ports. In Southern Manchuria and Mongolia, the extension is asked of the terms of the lease of the Kwang-tung (Port Arthur and Darien) and the 'Manchuria' and Mukden railroads.

In the same region, Japan asks for the acquisition by Japanese of the rights of residence and ownership of land .and the grant of mining rights. Before granting railroad concession to any third Power, China must agree to consult Japan in advance. Before endeavoring to obtain capital for loans from any third Power, China must consult Japan. Before choosing any foreign political, military, or financial advisers, China must consult Japan. The transfer of the management and control of the Chang-chin railroad is to be made to the Japanese. China is obligated not to alienate or lease any ports or bays on any island near the coast of. Formosa.

SOME OF THE ORIGINAL STIPULATIONS. -

Among the stipulations said to have, boon originally presented to Japan, • which are not included in the memorandum as handed to certain of the foreign Legations, are the following:— That if China employs foreigners, as controlling advisers in police, militcry, or financial departments of the entire country. Japanese shall be preferred; that one-half of the ammunition and arms hereafter used by China must be purchased from Japan, otherwise an arsenal must be established in China employing Japanese experts and materials; that China must grant to Japan tho same privileges as other - nations to establish mission, schools, and churches throughout the country, with the, privilege of prorogating Buddhism; that mining concessions conflicting with existing concessions shall not be granted to other foreigners if a Chino-Japanese company, hereafter tp be formed, shall disapprove; that certain railroad concessions from Nanchang to Clmo Chow Fu, from Nanchang to Kukiang, • from Nanchang to Wuchang, and from Nanchang to Hangchow shall be granted; that foreigners other than Japanese shall be excluded from future railroad, mining, and dockbuilding concessions, unless Japan shall (five her consent.

CHINA'S COUNTER-PROPOSALS.

It is learned that China has niafle - three counter-proposals respecting thai' portion of the Japanese demands which' concerns concessions in Manchuria, Mogolia, and Shantung. The Chinese Govcrrnent also has signified its willingness to made "public declaration that China shall never cede a port, harbor, or island to another Power, but it has "declined to pledge itself to that effect to to Japan. The Pekin (government also has expressed itself as willing to discuss' any demands which it does not regard as infringing upon China's sovereignty, or as affecting existing treaty rights with other powers. Tho status of the negotiations is now rather clouded. Two opinions prevail in Chinese Government circles, one that Japan will press for her demands in full, and the other that Japan cannot insist upon any stipulation beyond the eleven set forth in the communications to the Foreign Governments.

JAPAN IMPROVING CHANCE.

A message from London on the same date said:—"Gloom in Europe is sunshine for Japan, so Japan is making hay," is the comment of the Manchester Guardian on the demands made by Japan on China, which the Guardian 'declares "in some ways are scarcely compatible with the declared object of the AngloJapimeso Alliance to ensure the independence and integrity or China." The Guardian contends that, in meeting Japan's very comprehensive projects in Manchuria, Shantung province, eastern Mongolia, the Yangtse Valley, and in Fii-kicn, China has none of the ad«". vantages which blic had before August of last year; her European friends are occupied, the paper says, and the United States, which is one of the guarw tors of the "open door'' policy, has uiy gent business closer home. ,