793.94/1062: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State

26. The Japanese Foreign Office issued the following statement to the press last night:

With the coming into effect of the treaty of peace the rights and interests of Germany in Shantung have definitely passed into the [Page 815] hands of Japan. With a view to fulfilling its often repeated declaration and promises and carrying out the retrocession of Kiaochow Bay and other reconstruction measures, the Imperial Government has instructed the Imperial Japanese Minister at Peking to make representations to the Chinese Government in the following sense:

Inasmuch as the Peace Treaty has finally come into effect the Imperial Government in its often repeated declarations is desirous of entering into negotiations with the Chinese Government in regard to the retrocession of Kiaochow Bay and other questions of reconstruction measures and to prepare for a speedy settlement of these questions. It therefore hopes that the Chinese Government also will make the necessary preparations.

With reference to our troops along the line of the Shantung Railway it is desired, decision has previously been declared, to withdraw the troops as quickly as possible as soon as an agreement in regard to the retrocession of Kiaochow Bay and other matters is concluded between Japan and China or even before. If there is no one to take charge of the protection of the railway after the withdrawal of our forces there will be no way of assuring the safety of transportation. This will be disadvantageous not only to Japan but also to China who as a copartner in this enterprise will share alike in its interests. Therefore, although our troops will for the present have to be retained for its protection until China completes the organization of a police force and takes charge of the protection of the railway, if China speedily commences and completes the organization of this police force our troops will be withdrawn even before the conclusion of a Sino-Japanese agreement. It is therefore, hoped that the Chinese Government will understand this and will complete the organization of the police force as speedily as possible.

Morris
  1. Text printed from corrected copy received Jan. 30, 3:32 a.m.