Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1921, Volume I

793.94/1285

The Japanese Ambassador (Shidehara) to the Secretary of State

Washington, September 16, 1921.

Dear Mr. Secretary: I am now in receipt of a telegram from Tokio informing me that the outline of the terms of settlement on the Shantung question, which Japan proposed to China on September 7, and which I had the pleasure of communicating to you, has just been published in a communiqué of the Foreign Office at Tokio. The communiqué is prefaced by an explanatory statement, copy of which I venture to enclose herewith for your information.

Believe me [etc.]

K. Shidehara

[Enclosure]

Statement by the Japanese Foreign Office

The Japanese Minister at Peking submitted on the seventh instant the following general plan a$ the basis of the settlement of the Shantung question and, inviting thereto a serious and sincere consideration, once more requested the Chinese Government to enter into negotiations in this matter along the lines indicated in that plan and to appoint as soon as possible commissioners with a view to arranging detailed plans for carrying into effect the terms of settlement that may be agreed upon.