CHINA AND JAPAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 36

CHINA AND JAPAN.

(By Cable.)

The Chinese claim the abrogation of the Japanese Treaty of 1915, because it is incompatible with the League of Nations. They also claim complete freedom to direct their own destiny. The Daily News, in a vigorous leader, demands that the Peace Conference shall rectify the colossal wrong under which China is suffering owing to the Japanese refusal to quit Shantung. This raises one of the gravest problems at present before the world, involving the whole future of the Far East. China's grievance, says the paper, is unanswerable. Japan, whose services to the Allies were inconsiderable, was extremely vigorous in the capture of Kiao-chan. Japanese troops landed 150 miles outside leased German territory, disregarding international law, which the British respected. The whole of the Shantung Peninsula was occupied, and the entire railway, and the Japanese refused to withdraw from Shantung after the fall of Kiao-chau. Japan then presented her famous 20 points, demanding power to officer the army control the police, finance, and mines, and to manufacture firearms. China, under pressure, agreed. Japan to-day is practically the master of Northern China, and there is grave danger that China will fall into Japanese, hands and be exploited and militarised. This means the closing .of her vast resources and inexhaustible markets to Europe and America, and the emergence of a new military system of incalculable dimensions which will overshadow Asia, and perhaps ultimately wreck the world. The moment to deal with the menace is now, and if it is allowed to develop it will never be overtaken. The silence hitherto maintained regarding Japan must cease, and the issue must be faced. To clear the principle that China belongs to the Chinese Japan must go. The New York Times Washington correspondent reports that the text of a secret military and naval agreement signed between China and Japan in May, 1918, has been received. It was published in Tokio. The agreement provided for the full cooperation of China and Japan against Germany and Austria, "in view of the enemy's influence, which is invading Russia and eastward." The agreement was to terminate when the war against the Central Power's ended. The New York World Paris correspondent reports: A Japanese official, who wishes his name withheld, said in an interview : If Japan's position towards Kiao-chau and Shantung is not improved by the Peace Conference, Japan will withdraw from the Conference and make her own arrangements with Germany. The correspondent continues: The Japanese position is strengthened by the fact that she holds a secret treaty signed by Britain, France, and Italy in 1916, consigning her certain rights in perpetuity. Japan will not insist upon her treaty rights unless compelled to do so. A Washington despatch states that the Japanese Government is considering an amendment to the Alien Land Ownership Law, passed in 1910, but never promulgated. The amendment is to permit foreigners to purchase land in Japan. This was formerly impossible under the Alien Land Law. Japan is despatching additional troops to deal with the Korean revolt. Speaking at Springfield (Illinois), Baron Geto, former Foreign Minister, said Japan is really acting in Korea as the United States acted at Porto Rico and the Philippines, with the object of maintaining peace and order amongst disorderly neighbours. The Ambassador has been recalled to Tbkio to confer -with the Government The New York Herald Tokio correspondent reports that six battalions of Japanese troops have been sent to Korea for the purpose of suppressing disturbances. A Washington message states that Mr Polk, Acting Secretary of State, says that the relations with Japan are not disturbed despite the Tientsin and Siberian incidents.