THE THREAT OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 38, 15 February 1919, Page 6

THE THREAT OF WAR

ALLEGED THEFT OF TREATY APPREHENSION AMONG THE POWERS. OJNITEB PMSS ASSOCIATION.—COPIMOHT.) (BECIBR'B TBLJQRAM.) WASHINGTON, 13th February. 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, Japan virtually threatened war if China makes public the secret treaties or fails to carry out the agreement to make Japan the successor to Germany in the property and concessions held by Ger- ' inany 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, and Consequently they were unable to carry out their purpose of making them public at the Conference, but the delegates verbally reported the subetance of the stolen documents, whereupon Japan demanded that China should disavow the action of the delegates. The most important of these treaties is dated ! September, 1918. It grants Shantung to Japan, and admits Japan as the successor pf Germany's right* and concessions to railways and mines. The Chinese claim that Japan already possesses under treaties twofifths of the iron deposits of the entire Chinese Republic. They also state that their Foreign Minister has been bluntly told that Japan has idle an army of over a million ready to conduct a long war.

[It was reported yesterday, according to the Washington correspondent of the New York Times, that it has been denied in a Japanese diplomatic quarter that Japan threatened China if the latter published the secret treaties. It was declared that no secret treaties existed. The Japanese Government has suggested to China that the peace delegates should refrain from anti-Japanese agitation in Paris, in view of the friendly relations existing between the countries.]