JAPAN'S NOTE TO CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15847, 18 February 1915, Page 5

JAPAN'S NOTE TO CHINA.

RECEPTION IN PEKIN. PLEA FOR POSTPONEMENT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received February 17. 7.30 p.m.) London, Fehruary 16. The Chinese Minister at Tokio has informed Pekin that Japan declines to modify her demands. China is determined not to negotiate immediately excepting in connection with Eastern Mongolia and South Manchuria. At the conclusion of the war China will be willing to discuss the Japanese demands relating to the Shantung Peninsula. The present disposition of China is resolutely to reject all the other demands which she considers are calculated to violate her independence.

A recent cable stated that Japan had made demands to China tantamount to asking China not to enter into territorial arrangements with any foreign Power without first consulting Japan, and practically giving Japan control of the railways and rivers of China. The Times' correspondent reported that the demands include exclusive mining rights in East Mongolia, an extension of the lease of Port Arthur to 99 years, and the transfer of all railway and mining privileges in the Shantung Peninsula formerlv held by the Germans. It was understood that Japan's demands to China were com municated in the course of January to Britain, France, Russia, and America The desire of Japan to place her relations with China on a well-defined basis appeared to be prompted in the first instance by China's attitude under German influence at the beginning of the war