China and Japan

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 284, 10 May 1915, Page 5

China and Japan

THE FEELING IN AMERICA. PLAIN TALK TO .JAPAN". (Times and Sydney Hun Services.liceeived May 8, 5.55 p.m. London, May 7. America is anxiously awaiting developments in the Far East. There is a feeling of disappointment at Sir Edward Grey's re.cont statement, which is considered unsatisfactory and vague. The Washington Post accuses Great Britain of evasively conniving at Japanese duplicity, li China is reduced to vaskilagr, history will charge up against Great Britain one more-act of perfidy. Practically nobody attempts to defend Japa 11.

The New "i ork Times advises Japan that, if she is determined to encroach in China, that she had better first make an alliance with Germanyj, because the attacking of defenceless China would 'be regarding treaties as a scrap of pa pel and she would be adopting Prussian methods. The Times strongly emphasises that the future of .Japanese relationship with the United States 'is largely dependent on Japan's action. It is not likely that Washington will take stringent steps on behalf of Chinese integrity. The Mexican examples tend to preclude such action. Americans might even welcome Japanese preoccupation with China as tending to remove the pressure of Japanese ambitions by demanding naturalisation in the United States, with possible Japanese threats against tie Monroe doctrine; but Japan would lose her title to be regarded aa law abiding'and honest. Japan's present procedure with China's apparent treaty obligations will array the entire western world against her. The elder statesmen, who favor moderation, must act in 110 uncertain fashion if they wish to rescue Japan's name from great and lasting discredit, from which Japan's allies cannot hope to escape. It is expected that China will make a direct appeal to the Powers.

CHiNA DOES NOT WANT WAR. El-l-'OUT.S TO AviHEli WITH JAI'AX. London, .May 7. A Ui-uti'i- cablegram states that Japan 'las further mortified Ikt original proposals, and instructed tile -Minuter lit I'eking to renew his efforts for a solution of the problem. Tokio, May 7. Tile newspaper Xiehi-.S'k-hi-Shimb.im states that China lias intimated ;i desire to enter into an arrangement avoiding a rupture. London, May 7. Hie Dai.y >.ews, ,in a leading article, says it is not easy to find a parallel for such demands by one Power on another as Japan made upon 'China. In many respect:; Japan's demands are more stringent than were those of Austria upun Servia, which led to the European war. China has done nothing to merit such a penalty. .She has offered 110 menace and lias wanted only to enjoy her own liberties in her own way. If China had been a military nation .she "\v ould never have heen thus challenged. She has neither the will nor the power to taks an irreconcilable course against her powerful neighbor. It would be. grotesque to suggest that she is responsible for the crisis. It will be the most bitter tragedy of this war if one of its consequences is that an unoffending nation, whose integrity and independence the Anglo-Japanese, alliance guaranteed, is despoiled by one of the signatories of the alliance.

"NO POSSIBILITY OF WAR." AN ASSURANCE FROM TOKIO. Wellington, Last Night. A Wellington firm interested in the Far Last commerce, cabled to tiieir agents at Tokio on Friday inquiring whether the outlook in regard to China was serious enough to affect trade. A reply was received last night stating there was no possibility ot war, and that since Wednesday masters have taken a ino-jt reassuring turn. The cable added: "Not the slightest anxiety need be felt in commercial circles." JAPAN MAKES CONCESSIONS. QUESTIONS FOR FRIEX DI.Y DISCUSSION.. Received May 1), 10.15 a.m. London, May S. Renter says the demands of China are still resisting. The demands known as the group of live includes the questions of advisors, arms, lanjownership, schools, hospitals, "railway concessions in .Southern China, an\l aiso questions relating to Fukien. These, have been the main obstacle to a settlement throughout. Japan now offers to withdraw "the group of live except Fukien, reserving them for future friendly discussion. lieuter adds that a compromise was previously reached regarding Fukien before the deadlock developed.

ULTIMATUM DELAYED. IXTLUEXCIS I'TiO.U ViKKAT BRITAIN. Received May !■), 10 a.ni London, .May 8. The 'Morning Post's Shanghai correspondent says Japan has delayed presenting'the ultimatum owing tu British'mediation. . JAPANESE FLKET ACTIVK. Received May 10, 12.10 a.m.. Tokio, .May B.' The lleet is active. The second squadron has left Saselio for an unknown destination. JAPAN* ANXIOUS FOR PEACE. 'Received May 10, I'i.liO a.m. 'Sydney, May 1). At the annual dinner of the Granville lirotherhood, the Japanese Consul said lie desired to remove a wrong impression created l>y inaccurate reports of the Japan-China crisis negotiations. Naturally, they -were, confidential and could not lie published on the housetops, but everything was square and abovelioard. It was unjust to say Japan was adopting similar tactics to Hevvia. Japan was anxious for peace. Received, 'Mav 10, 12.30 a.m. IVkin, May S. The ultimatum is accompanied by an explanatory note, in 'which Japan has .furtlnV modified her demands. She has repeaied the offer to retrocedc Kaio Chan on the conditions previously oli'ewl.' ■ li'iian nm\' asks a long lease of laud soiiih of Manchuria: also permission to iincri'tak" agricultural enterprises in eastern and inner Manchuria., anil insists on a. set (lenient of the Yangtze railways and -tin* i'ukicn demands.