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.
[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.
[No signature indicated]
