CO129-499-5 Canton situation- governor's despatches 11-3-1927 - 11-3-1927 — Page 70

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