793.94/1091

The Chargé in China (Tenney) to the Secretary of State

No. 3245

Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of the text of the note sent by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Japanese Minister on the 22nd ultimo. I succeeded in obtaining the text of the note only yesterday, hence the delay.

It is reported that the Japanese response is to increase the number of Japanese soldiers along the Shantung Railway.

The ruling faction at Peking would undoubtedly prefer to negotiate with the Japanese, but public sentiment is so strong upon the question that they are afraid of a popular uprising if they consent to negotiate.

I have [etc.]

Charles D. Tenney
[Enclosure—Translation]

The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs (W. W. Yen) to the Japanese Minister in China (Obata)

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of April 26, 1920, in regard to the returning of Tsingtau and other questions of reorganization in Shantung. Previous to this in January of the present year Your Excellency delivered to me a note [Page 817] verbale to the effect that as the result of the going into effect of the treaty the Japanese Government intended to return Tsingtau and the note set forth preparations to be made for the removal of the troops along the Kiaochau-Tsinan Railway.

My Government has taken due cognizance of these facts. However, as the Chinese Government was unable to carry out its policy in respect to Kiaochau Bay at the Peace Conference at Paris it did not sign the Treaty of Peace with Germany and it follows as a consequence that it has not been in a position to enter into direct negotiations with Your Excellency’s Government concerning Tsingtau in accordance with the terms of the German treaty. Furthermore Your Excellency is undoubtedly thoroughly cognizant of the great popular excitement on the part of the people of this nation in reference to this question. Constrained by these considerations and actuated by a desire to conserve the friendly relations between China and Japan my Government has found it impossible to return a hasty, ill-considered reply.

By the revised statement contained in a subsequent note verbale, delivered in translation, my Government was more thoroughly apprised of the desire of the Japanese Government to remove the troops stationed on the Kiaochau-Tsinan Railway, and the Chinese Government at that very moment was engaged in consulting with the local authorities in order to make arrangements for the transfer of selected gendarmerie from other places to the Railway, so that it might assume responsibility for the protection of the entire line.

When your note was received covering these different points I informed Your Excellency orally of the reasons preventing my Government from entering into immediate negotiations with the Japanese Government, which fact is matter of record. But in view of the circumstances as they actually exist at the present time, the state of war against Germany having long ago ceased to exist, there is naturally no longer any necessity for the continuance of the military measures taken by Japan within and without the Kiaochau Bay area and the protection of Kiaochau-Tsinan Railway should as soon as possible be restored to the condition obtaining before the European war. That the latter measure shall be taken is the earnest hope of the Government and the people of China. The obligation of course arises to make adequate preparations for taking over from the Japanese troops now guarding the Railway the maintenance of peaceful conditions along the entire line. But this matter is entirely separate and distinct from that of the return of Tsingtau, and I feel confident that Your Excellency’s Government will on no account delay in its execution, since such delay will accentuate the mistaken view taken by the people of this nation and the world at large.

[Page 818]

If your Excellency’s Government will entirely abolish these military measures appertaining to a state of war, thus evidencing the restoration of peace, it will naturally devolve upon my Government to issue instructions to the local authorities to enter into negotiations with the Japanese consular and other officials in regard to necessary measures.

I have the honor to make this reply for your information.

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