2.-
(2)
previous talk about maintaining the balance of
power cannot continue to have any weight.
70
Disputes about the acquiring of leases to territory
in China have led to wars between the various
Powers. In 1904 Russia proposed to construct
a railway linking up Ta Lien Wan with the Siberian
Railway, and the Russo-Japanese War ensued.
In
1914 war broke out between Japan anu Germany on
account of Tsingtao. It is imperative therefore
in the interests of peace in the Far East that all
leased territory should be resumed.
(3) The Powers have made use of their leased territories
in China as spheres of influence for their own
profit. These spheres of influence for private
profit constitute a serious breach of the spirit of the "open-door" policy frequently advocated by
the Powers.
These remarks treat the subject from the judi-
Now let me tell cial and political points of view.
you what is the actual attitude of France at present towards Kwong Chow Wan. In 1921 when the representatives of various Powers discussed at the Washington Conference
the question of leased territories in China, Viviani, the representative of France, declared that the French
Government would most willingly return Kwong Chow Wan to China on the conditions that (1) the various Powers
should also return their leased territories to China
when Kwong Chow Wan was returned by France, and (2)
adequate protection should be assured to all property of the subjects of France in Kwong Chow Wan after its
return.
At that time the Japanese representative also
voiced the attitude of Japan. He said that negotiations