September 3rd, 1921.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
JAPANESE "* AGGRESSION" IN | Chinese Government undertook to recog-
CHINA.
(Daily Press, August 27th, 1921.) In an article headed: "Wadted a Far Eastern Concert," the Nation and - Athenaeum observes: It is childlike on our part to say that we do not under-
take in advance to support Japan with arms against America. What America wants to know is whether we mean to go on giving diplomatic support to Japanese aggressions in China. For as long as we cover them with our moral support, they will go on. They will stor the day that we join America in oppos- ing them round the table of the Concert." What is the evidence that Great Britain has given diplomatic and moral support to Japanese aggression? No particular act of aggression on Japan's part is ever stated unless it be her occupation of Tsingtao, which she holds for the present on certain defined conditions. by a right of conquest acknowledged by the Versailles Treaty and previously by a Treaty enter
ed into with China. We should like to
learn precisely what grounds exist for the allegation that Great Britain has been giving diplomatic or moral support to Japanese aggressions in China, and in what respect the attitude of America has hithero differed from that of Great Britain. No Foreign Power has a greater interest than Great Britain in seeing that the integrity of China and the principle of equal opportunity for the trade and
commerce of all nations in China-to which every nation interested in China, the Japanese nation included, is definitely pledged maintained and observed. It America's interest as much as it is Grea+ Britain's. Quite recently. indeed, Mr HUGHES. the American Secretary of State, in a letter to the Chinese Ambassador at Washington wrote:-
are is
con-
Your reference to the principle of the open door affords me the opportunity to essure you of this Government's tinuance of its whole-hearted support of that principle which it has traditionally regarded as fundamental both to the interests of China itself and to the com- mon interests of all the Powers in China and a indispensable to the free and peaceful development of the commerce or the Pacific ocean. The Government of the United States has never associated itself with any arrangement which sought
to
est blish any special rights or privileges in China which would abridg the rights of subjects or citizens of other friendly States; and [ am happy to assure you that it is the purpose of this Government neither to participate nor to acquie ce in any arrangement which might purport to establish in favour of fore-gn interests any superiority of rights in respect to commercial economic development in
designated regions of the territories of China, o which might seek to create any such monopoly or preference as would exclude other nations also from undertaking any legitimate trade
or industry, or from participating with the Chinese Govern- ment in any category of public enterprise."
nise whatever Germany agreed to in the Treaty of Peace regarding the disposi- tion of her rights and interests in China, Japan has offered to return Kiaochow to China. China, however, repudiating the Treaty of 1915 as having heen extorted from her in diplomatic circumstances of force majeure, refuses
to
treat with Japan on the subject. How the Conference may be expected to adjust this difficulty we cannot imagine.
It would be easier to solve if so many enterprising Japanese had not, during the Japanese occupation of the territory. seized the opportunity to buy up every hold of, so that, whatever becomes of site of commercial value they could get Kiaochow under any diplomatic agree. ment. it will remain to all intents and purposes a Japanese port. Under the Treaty of 1915 which China is trying to "epudiate, the Chinese Government engaged to open of their own accord. is early as possible, suitable cities and towns in the Province of Kwangtung for the residence and trade of foreigners. The very propinquity of the territory to Japan, and the large number of Japanese settlers already in the Pro- vince clearly point to such trade and
monopoly. residence becoming virtually a Japanese There is nothing in the agreement to exclude other foreigners, but it is improbable that Japan had any altruistic purpose in view in making these demands, for it was a foregone conclusion that the foreigners who would go to the cities and towns in the interior to be opened to foreign trade and resid. ence would be preponderatingly Japanese even to a greater extent than the foreign population of the port of Kiaochow, Such considerations must have been in the mind of Mr. LANSING with whom Baron ISHII in 1917 exchanged the famous liplomatic Notes which recognised that Japan has "special interests in China, particularly in the parts to which her cossessions
It contiguous." arefully explained, however, that not vithstanding this recognition of special interests" the territorial overeignty of China remained unim paired, and the Government of the United states had every confidence in the repeated assurances of the Imperial Japanese Government that while geo- Fraphic position gives Japan such special interests they have no desire to dis- criminate against the trade of other nations or to disregard the commercial rights hitherto granted by China in
;
are
other Powers."
was
These
215
JAPAN IN CHINA AND SIBERIA.
(Daily Press, August 29th, 1921). A very interesting diplomatic Note which Japan has recently communicated to the Government of the United States
on the subject of the Pacific Conference will be found in another part of to-day's issue. Japan is facing the Conference with a divided air. On the one side she is willing enough to join in a con- ference with the other Powers, if only
the other she fears lest questions should to show her equality with them; but on
be raised at the Conference which she will find it awkward or impossible to discuss. It is for the latter reason that there have been so many manœuvres on her part to discover what the Conference is to be about-more particularly that part of it which is to deal with Pacific problems. Are the questions which were
decided at
the Peace Conference
at
These
as settled. And the
was
Versailles to be again raised? Japan regards as faits accomplis-things done and finished with beyond control. America, however, as she has not signed the Peace Treaty, by no means regards such questions difficulty is that America is calling the Conference and is arranging the pro- made as to the settlement of all outstand- gramme. Various suggestions have been
the Conference ing questions before meets, and there have been numerous messages flying around, propaganda
that the Yap problem stating practically settled, that China was now willing to negotiate on the Shantung question, and that the evacuation of Siberia was now on the point of consum- mation. But the Yap negotiations con- tinue to drag on, America disputing the whole question of the mandates and re- fusing to be pacified with possession of the cable. As for the Shantung question, China refuses to listen to the voice of the charmer, the fact being that the Peking Government, especially in view of the civil commotions, would not last long if it attempted to open any negotiations. On the other hand, there is every evi- dence that China is preparing most assidiously to bring before the Confer- ence not only this case, but also all other cases where infringements on her sovereignty have been made by foreign Powers. China,it has been pointed out,has not been invited to attend the Confer-
ence:
only to send representatives to it. This is a somewhat subtle distinction which may mean that China is to have no voice in its decisions. If this be the remain the outcast China will
case
was
'reaties with notes were exchanged, be it observed, two years after Japan had made her treaty with China respecting the Pro- vince
American of Shantung The Government in publishing the ISH among nations. It is probable, however, LANSING Notes said the representatives of that no such exclusion is intended, but
in wording "cleared Japan had 01
the diplomatic that the difference
SO as not to burt Japan's atmosphere of the suspicions which had devised
feelings. been so carefully spread by German pro- paganda." We are inclined to think. however, that suspicions of Japanese aggression will endure so long as the number of Japanese settlers in China-the Northern part of China especially so overwhelmingly predominate over all other foreigners, and so long as there is the same preponderance of Japanese capital for investment there.
This is but reiterating pledges which are twenty years old, adopted and endorsed in diplomatic agreements by every Power interested in the commerce or economics of China. In this com- munication America is evidently talking at Japan. Unquestionably while making a show of acting up to the letter of the agreement Japan has pursued a policy in Shantung which defeats the spirit of the pledge. Under pressure of public
Deceased Brother's Widow's Marriage In the House of Lords. last month, the Bill passed through Committee, after an amendment had been inserted, at the in- stance of Viscount Haldane, to enable the foreign clergyman officiating at the outside wedding to have previous ertry to the opinion, and notwithstanding church for the purpose of publishing the the treaty made in 1915, whereby the banns.
11
Then there is the Siberian ques- tion. The repeated assertions that the civil authorities in Japan have put their foot down and are determined on evacuation, however much the military authorities may object, has been made too often to allow of other than cynical suggestions as to the exact nature of the co-ordination of the firm of SPENLOW and JORKINS. This shifting of responsibility is not too old a trick
military party can always point to the to prevent its effective use, and the
disturbed state of the country and the absence of any stable Government to carry on negotiations with, while itself doing its best to see that no stable Government has a chance of coming into existence. Japan, of course, will only retire from Siberia after negotiations;
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