CHINA AND JAPAN

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 15 February 1919, Page 5

CHINA AND JAPAN

ALLEGED THREATS.

CAUSING GRAVE APPREHENSION

nr CABLE—PBES3 ASSOCIATION—JJPVBWHT

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, Japan has virtually threatened war if China makes public the secret treaties, and fails to carry out the agreement to make Japan the successor to German^ 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, tWofifths of the iron deposits 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.