Statement by the Chinese Delegation
Title
Statement by the Chinese Delegation
Creator
Unknown
Identifier
WWP15750
Date
1919 May 3
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
STATEMENT BY THE CHINESE DELEGATION
The Chinese Delegation views with dissatisfaction astonishment the settlement proposed by the Council of Three in regard to the Shantung question. China has come to the Conference with strong faith in the lofty principles adopted by the Allied and Associated Powers as the basis of a just and permanent peace. Great, thetefore, will be the disappointment and disillusionment of the Chinese people over the proposed settlement. If there was reason for the Council to stand firm on the question of Fiume, there would seem all the more reason to uphold China’s claim relating to Shantung which involves the future of 36,000,000 souls and the highest interests of peace in the Far East.
On the afternoon of May 1st, the Chinese Delegation was verbally informed by the Council of Three of an outline of the settlement. Under this settlement all rights in Kiaochow-Shantung formerly belonging to Germany are to be transferred without reservation to Japan. While Japan voluntarily eg engages to hand back the Shantung peninsula in full sovereignty formerly enjoyed by Germany, which the to China, she is allowed to retain the economic privileges formerly enjoyed by Germany, which, the Delegation is informed, refer to the Tsingtao-Chinan railway, 280 miles in length, the mines connected therewith, and the two railways to be built connecting Shantung with the two trunk lines running from Peking to the Yangtze valley. In addition, she obtains the right to establish a settlement at Tsingtao a perpetual tenure in place of a former lease. Though the Japanese military forces are, it is understood, to be withdrawn from Shantung at the earliest possible moment the employment of special railway police is permitted.
The German rights in Shantung, it will be recalled, originated in an act of wanton aggression in 1897, characteristic of Prussian militarism. To transfer these rights to Japan, as the Council of Three has proposed to do, is therefore, to perpetuate an act of aggression which has been resented by the Chinese people ever since its perpetration.
Moreover, owing to China’s declaration of war against the Teutonic Powers on August 14, 1917, and the abrogation of all treaties and agreements between China and these Powers, the German rights automatically freverted to China. This declaration was officially notified to, and taken cognizance of, by the Allied and Associated Governments. It is therefore significant that the Council, in announcing the settlement of the Kiaochow Shantung question, referred to the rights to be transferred to jJapan as “rightds formerly belonging to Germany”. It appears clear then that the Council has been besitowing on Japan rights, not of Germany but of China, not of an enemy but of an Ally. A more powerful Ally has reaped the benefits at the expense, not of the common enemy, but of a weaker Ally.
Such virtual substitution of Japan for Germany in Shantung serious in itself, becomes grave when the position of Japan in South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia is read in connection with it. Firmly entrenched on both sides of the Gulf of Pechihli-- the water outlet of Peking-- with a hold on the three trunk lines issuing from Peking and connecting it withe the rest of China, the Capital becomes but an enclave in the mkidst of Japanese influence.
Besides, Shantung is China’s holy land, packed with memories of Confucius and Mencius and hallowed as the cradle of Chinese civilization. If it is the intention of the Council to restrore it to China, it is difficult to see on what consideration of principle or expediency can be justified the transfer in the first instance to an aleien Power wh then “voluntarily engages” to hand it back to its rightful owner.
Japan has based her claim for the German rights oIn Shantung also on the treat and ies and notes of 1915 and on the notes of 1918 with China. It is to be noted, however, that the documents of 1915 werr agreded to by VChina under the coercion of an ultimatum from Japan threatening war in case of non-compliance with the Twenty-One Demands. The notes of 1918 were made by China as price for Japan’s promise to withdraw her troopd whose presence in the interior of Shantung as well the establishment of Japanese civil administration bureaux had aroused such popular opposition that the Chinese Government felt cnonstrained to make the arrangement.
The Chinese Delegation understands that the decision of the Council has been prompted by the fact that Great Britain and France had undertaken in February and March 1917 to support at the Peace Conference the claims of Japan to German rights in Shantung. To none of these secret agreements, however, was China a party, now was she informed of their contents when she was invited to join the war against the Central Powers. The fortunes of China appear thus to have been made an object of negotiation and compensation after she had already definitely aligned herslef with the Allied cause. Apart from this, it is at least open to question how far these arrnagementsarw still applicable, as Chinaahas soince become a co-belligerent. The claims of Japan referred to in these agreements apear, moreover scarecely compatible woth the fourteen points formally adopted by the Powers associated against Germany.
In the Council has granted the claims of Japan in full for the purpose of saving the League of Nations, as has been intimated to be the case, China of course would have less to complain, believing as she does that it si a duty to make sacrifices for such a noble cause as the establishment of a League of Nations. The Chinese Delegations h cannot, however, refrain from wishing that the Council had seen fit, as it would be far more consonant with the spirit of the League of Nations now on the eve of formation, to call upon strong Japan to forego her claims animated apparentylly only by a desire for aggrandixemmentm, instead of upon weak China to surrender what was hers by right.
The Chinese Delegation views with dissatisfaction astonishment the settlement proposed by the Council of Three in regard to the Shantung question. China has come to the Conference with strong faith in the lofty principles adopted by the Allied and Associated Powers as the basis of a just and permanent peace. Great, thetefore, will be the disappointment and disillusionment of the Chinese people over the proposed settlement. If there was reason for the Council to stand firm on the question of Fiume, there would seem all the more reason to uphold China’s claim relating to Shantung which involves the future of 36,000,000 souls and the highest interests of peace in the Far East.
On the afternoon of May 1st, the Chinese Delegation was verbally informed by the Council of Three of an outline of the settlement. Under this settlement all rights in Kiaochow-Shantung formerly belonging to Germany are to be transferred without reservation to Japan. While Japan voluntarily eg engages to hand back the Shantung peninsula in full sovereignty formerly enjoyed by Germany, which the to China, she is allowed to retain the economic privileges formerly enjoyed by Germany, which, the Delegation is informed, refer to the Tsingtao-Chinan railway, 280 miles in length, the mines connected therewith, and the two railways to be built connecting Shantung with the two trunk lines running from Peking to the Yangtze valley. In addition, she obtains the right to establish a settlement at Tsingtao a perpetual tenure in place of a former lease. Though the Japanese military forces are, it is understood, to be withdrawn from Shantung at the earliest possible moment the employment of special railway police is permitted.
The German rights in Shantung, it will be recalled, originated in an act of wanton aggression in 1897, characteristic of Prussian militarism. To transfer these rights to Japan, as the Council of Three has proposed to do, is therefore, to perpetuate an act of aggression which has been resented by the Chinese people ever since its perpetration.
Moreover, owing to China’s declaration of war against the Teutonic Powers on August 14, 1917, and the abrogation of all treaties and agreements between China and these Powers, the German rights automatically freverted to China. This declaration was officially notified to, and taken cognizance of, by the Allied and Associated Governments. It is therefore significant that the Council, in announcing the settlement of the Kiaochow Shantung question, referred to the rights to be transferred to jJapan as “rightds formerly belonging to Germany”. It appears clear then that the Council has been besitowing on Japan rights, not of Germany but of China, not of an enemy but of an Ally. A more powerful Ally has reaped the benefits at the expense, not of the common enemy, but of a weaker Ally.
Such virtual substitution of Japan for Germany in Shantung serious in itself, becomes grave when the position of Japan in South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia is read in connection with it. Firmly entrenched on both sides of the Gulf of Pechihli-- the water outlet of Peking-- with a hold on the three trunk lines issuing from Peking and connecting it withe the rest of China, the Capital becomes but an enclave in the mkidst of Japanese influence.
Besides, Shantung is China’s holy land, packed with memories of Confucius and Mencius and hallowed as the cradle of Chinese civilization. If it is the intention of the Council to restrore it to China, it is difficult to see on what consideration of principle or expediency can be justified the transfer in the first instance to an aleien Power wh then “voluntarily engages” to hand it back to its rightful owner.
Japan has based her claim for the German rights oIn Shantung also on the treat and ies and notes of 1915 and on the notes of 1918 with China. It is to be noted, however, that the documents of 1915 werr agreded to by VChina under the coercion of an ultimatum from Japan threatening war in case of non-compliance with the Twenty-One Demands. The notes of 1918 were made by China as price for Japan’s promise to withdraw her troopd whose presence in the interior of Shantung as well the establishment of Japanese civil administration bureaux had aroused such popular opposition that the Chinese Government felt cnonstrained to make the arrangement.
The Chinese Delegation understands that the decision of the Council has been prompted by the fact that Great Britain and France had undertaken in February and March 1917 to support at the Peace Conference the claims of Japan to German rights in Shantung. To none of these secret agreements, however, was China a party, now was she informed of their contents when she was invited to join the war against the Central Powers. The fortunes of China appear thus to have been made an object of negotiation and compensation after she had already definitely aligned herslef with the Allied cause. Apart from this, it is at least open to question how far these arrnagementsarw still applicable, as Chinaahas soince become a co-belligerent. The claims of Japan referred to in these agreements apear, moreover scarecely compatible woth the fourteen points formally adopted by the Powers associated against Germany.
In the Council has granted the claims of Japan in full for the purpose of saving the League of Nations, as has been intimated to be the case, China of course would have less to complain, believing as she does that it si a duty to make sacrifices for such a noble cause as the establishment of a League of Nations. The Chinese Delegations h cannot, however, refrain from wishing that the Council had seen fit, as it would be far more consonant with the spirit of the League of Nations now on the eve of formation, to call upon strong Japan to forego her claims animated apparentylly only by a desire for aggrandixemmentm, instead of upon weak China to surrender what was hers by right.
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Unknown, “Statement by the Chinese Delegation,” 1919 May 3, WWP15750, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.