JAPAN AND CHINA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 19

JAPAN AND CHINA.

(By' Cable.) LOAN PROPOSALS OUTLINED. WASHINGTON, April 5. Japan participates in the arrangement of the' Chinese consortium, under which approximately 250,000,000 dollars will be advanced to China to develop the public works and improve the finances. This money, however, is not t$ be used for military purposes. JAPANESE RESERVATIONS. TOKIO, April 5. It is reported that an extraordinary session of Cabinet decided that Japan was willing to enter the Chinese financial consortium, but will not abandon her policy demanding the exclusion of Manchuria and Mongolia from the scope of the consortium unless the Japanese rights in these provinces are recognised and the consortium agreement excludes any future loan which may be prejudicial to Japanese interests in the provinces named. Marquis Iriduye, governor of the Bank of Japan, states that the Japanese banking groups are ■ fully determined to enter the consortium, and that an exchange of views between the Governments concerned is progressing favourably. UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. TOKIO', April 6. Mr T. Hara (Prime Minister), in the course of a speech on universal suffrage, declared that it aimed at the destruction of social and class distinctions, and even aimed at tampering with the conscription system, which was the basis of the country's defence. The Government felt it must remain in power, and it would redouble its* efforts to this end. NO DESIGNS IN THE PACTFIC. WASHINGTON, April 6. The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Shidi Hara, states that Japan has not fortified any former German islands in the Pacific, and has no intention of doing so, since she is adhering strictly to the terms of the treaty, under which • not only - are fortifications not permitted, but the train-

ing of natives for military purposes is forbidden. CHINESE RAILWAYS. - PEKING, April 4. Railway employers at' Harbin have assumed the management of the Chinese Eastern railway with the announced object of restoring order and removing the railroads' management from political control. SHANTUNG QUESTION REVIVED. PEKING, April 6. Several hundred Chinese, representing more than 20 educational and commercial organisations, have petitioned the Government to reject Japan's proposal to negotiate regarding the Shantung question, and to submit the matter to the League of Nations and abrogate the Chino-Japan-ese joint defence pact and other secret treaties. REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. SYDNEY, April 6. A convention of the Chinese Nationalist League of Australasia, including New Zealand delegates, is sitting in Sydney. The object is the uniting of all Chinese Republican organisations throughout the world, with a view to securing democratic rule in China, the restoration of Parliament, the establishment of local government bodies, the suppression of militarism, and the cultivation of international friendship. The Chinese Republican Convention decided to erect headquarters in Sydney at an estimated cost of £IO,OOO.