The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1917. CHINA AND THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 196, 17 August 1917, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1917. CHINA AND THE WAR.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

China's decision definitely to enter the war against Germany and Austria has probably been dictated more by consideration for her own interests than by any real cause of quarrel with the Central Powers. From the first days of the war Chinese statesmen had foreseen difficulties in regard to German interests in China, and when Japan undertook the siege of Tsing-Tau there were many prominent Chinese who tirged that it would be prudent for China to throw in her lot with the Allies, and declare war on Germany and her associates. A proposition was made by unofficial persons that China should send a division of troops to participate in the siege of Tsing-Tau; that-she should put her arsenals and other resources at the disposal of the Allies; and that she Bhould close up all enemy businesses and intern enemy subjects. This course was advocated by President Yuan Shih Kai, but when the matter was mooted to the Allied Embassies, they stated that they preferred that China [should remain neutral. They gave as the grounds of their decision the view that the thing that mattered most was that nothing should be done likely to load to disorder or to disturb the status quo in China. In the •ultimatum which Japan had addressed to Germany it was stated that Germany was required to deliver on a date not later than September 15, to the Imperial ' Japanese authorities, without condition or compensation, the entire leased territory of Kiao-Chau, with a view to the eventual restoration of the same to\ China. On August 24, 1014, the Mar-1 guis Okuma made a public declaration to the effect that Japan would restore I Kiao-Chau to China. But when the' Japanese Diet met on December 9 of the same year, and a deputy interpellated j the Government with regard t 0 KiaoChau, Baron Kato, the Foreign Minister, replied that he was not in a position to give any definite reply to the question. Apparently the Japanese Government took the view that the promise to restore Tsing-Tau to China was conditional on the peaceful surrender of the colony by Germany, and that Germany's armed resistance released Japan from her pledge, and restored her discretion. But Okunia's pledge had been given after the expiration of the ultimatum to Germany, and after the formal declaration •of war on that country.

Difficulties at once arose out of Japan's occupation of Kiao-Chau. One was the question of the Customs, Japan insisting on appointing a Japanese collector, while China suggested appointing a British collector. This question is still in sus- 1 pensc. The other was in connection with the railways and mines. The Japanese seized both, and China protested in vain. Japan then presented twenty-one demands to the Chinese Government, which if complied with would have made China little better than a Japanese protectorate. The British Government, however, intervened, and exerted its influence to impress moderation and wisdom on its ally. Japan withdrew the demands, and presented them in a revised form, accompanied by an ultimatum. In a memorandum accompanying the ultimatum the Japanese Government asserted that if the Chinese Government accepted all the articles as demanded in the ultimatum the offer of the Japanese Government to restore Eiao-Ghau to China would still hold good. China consented to the demands.

but Kiao-Chau remained a matter of dispute. Later on China revived the ' idea of entering the war on the side of '■ the Allies in order to put herself under the protection of their common guarantee. The Japanese Government i nipped the scheme in the bud. But the agitation in favour of declaring war on Germany grew rapidly, many Chinese • statesmen regarding this as tho only I step that would safeguard their country:' against aggression. Tbe Allies did not j 1 receive the proposition with any great, enthusiasm, as China was not willing to! : offer much in the way of active assis-' tance, and, indeed, did not seem likely 1 to be of much more assistance as an ally ; than as a neutral. Internal troubles ! ' caused the scheme to remain in abeyance , for some months, until, having disposed i of her civil difficulties, China was once ,' again in a position to act. Little mili- ,' tary value is likely to accrue from ' China's declaration, but it may have' i important bearings on matters in the Far East in the near future, ami will) probably be of considerable benefit to " China herself in finally settling the ' vexed question of the ownership of Kiao-Chau. ,