JAPAN & CHINA

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1919, Page 5

JAPAN & CHINA

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE. / CAUSING GRAVE APPREHENSION: THE SECRET TREATIES; Received Feb. 15, 1.45 a.m. Washington, Feb. 13. Japan's attitude towards China at the Peace Conference is causing grave apprehension amongst the representatives of the other Associated Powers. According to official diplomatic information here, Japau has virtually threatened war if China makes public the secret treaties, and fails to carry out the agreement to make Japau the auccessor to Germany in the property and concessions held by Germany at the outbreak of the war. When the Chinese peace delegates arrived at Paris they reported that the treaties had been stolen from their baggage while passing through Japan; consequently they were unable to carry out their purpose of making them public at the conference, but the delegates verbally reported the substance of the stolen documents. Whereupon Japan demanded that China disavow the delegates' action. The most important of these treaties is dated September last. It grants Shantung to Japan, and admits Japan as the successor to Germany's rights and concessions in railways and mines. The Chinese claim that Japan already possesses, under treaties, two-fifths of the iron deppsits of the entire Chinese Empire. They also state that their Foreign Minister has been bluntly told that Japan has an idle army of over a million men ready to conduct a long war.— Reuter. DENIAL OF JAPANESE THREAT. New York, Feb. 12. ■ A Washington message states that it was denied in Japanese diplomatic quarters that Japan threatened China if the latter published the secret treaties. It was declared that no secret treaties existed. The Japanese Government had suggested to China that the peace delegates should refrain from anti-Japanese agitation in Paris, in view of tlie friendly relations of the countries. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.