JAPAN AND CHINA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12538, 8 May 1915, Page 6

JAPAN AND CHINA.

JAPAN'S ULTIMATUM. 'lßy Electric Telegraph—Copyright. 1 Per Pr.-:ss Association. Washington, May 7. Received May 7, at 6.50 p.m. I Official. —China, has been given, .until Sunday to reply. It is believed that China will-vieldto "force majeure." Received May 8, at 9.10 a.m. Tokio, May 7. Xicbinichi Sliimbun states that China has intimated her desire to enter into an arrangement tor avoiding »■■ rupture. London, May 7. ! Renter's agent stales that Japan has further incdilied her original proposals and instructed the Minister at Pekin tn . renew his efforts towards a solution. Ketttc.r"s .Pekin agent sav.s that v'hjri;? offered to yield practically everything except, a few demands about which "she is making proposals. Received May 8. at 11.40 a.m. London, May S. Renter's Pekin eone.sponu.tnt .states that the Japanese ultimatum has been presented. . ; Tokio.'- May 7. An ultimatum has been presented, a reply being demanded within fortyeight hours. Washington. May 7. Mr Bryan, explaining the American Government's attitude towards Japan, reiterates her adherence to' the opendoor policy and the maintenance of Chinese territorial integrity. The Tinted .Stales' sole interest was that the negotiations between* Japan and China be concluded satisfactorily. It is understood that the United States is willing to offer its services for the adjustment of the dispute. London, May ~ The Daily News, in a leading article, says it is not easy to find a parallel for such demands by one Power to another, as Japan as made upon China. In many respects Japan's demands are more stringent than Austria's vccyc on Scrvia. which led to the European war. China has done nothing to merit such a penalty: she has offered no menace, and wanted only to enjoy her own liebrties in her own way. If China' wore a military nation she would never have been thus challenged. She has neither the will nor the power to take an irreconcilable course against her powerful neighbor, and it would bo f-ptcsquo to suugest that she is responsible for the crisis. It will be the last and most bitter tragedy of this war if one of its consequences is that unoffending nations whose independence and integrity the Anglo-Japanese Alliance guaranteed are despoiled by one of the signatories to the Alliance.

GERMAN INFLUENCE IN CHINA. Per Fbess Association. Wellington. May 7. A Wellington resident who has been in close touch -with the Esst during the past few months had some interesting light to throw on the China-Japanese quarrel', when interviewed to-night by a Times reporter. Advices lie has received from China during the past few weeks disclose that German influence in that country has caused considerable confusion .hi administrative affairs. Since the fail of Tsing-tao at the hands of ' the Japanese. German influence has been exerted in Pekin. at the seat of the Chinese official administration, with results that have led to constant quarrel; ling and disruption. The President of the "'Republic (Yuan-Shih-Kai) lias been at bay with hi- nrch-cnsniy, Dr Suit Yat Sen, and the latter, it has been abundantly proved, fcis fostered his de--8 sire to be .ruler of the Chinese Empire supported by the German official set. in fact, inquiries go to show that Dr Sun Yat Sen has. been working hand in hand with the Germans for many years, and has had German cainitalists in America supporting his- intrigues. So far the cards ihiave fallen' .against Yuan-Shih-Kai, who has always desired friendsh'o with the Japanese Government. In January Yuan-Shih-Kai left Pekin for Formosa, ostensibly to con- v suit the Japanese. representatives., There has been no advice that he has | yet returned to China. Dr Morrison, British adviser to Yuan>Slrih-Kai. is' supposed to have left Chnia again, after Irs return, in December, and! to have unsuceessfulrv attempted to .restore Yuan-Sliih-Kai's counsellors to a satis-, factory frame of mind in'-their relations with Dr Sun Yat Sen. From, the British and Japanese point of view the situation iu -China ibad reached breaking point, so much so that the trae }\:y\ arrived for Japan, backed by .Britain p«d her-Al'ies, to say that German influence in China must be eliminated.