Peking, July 31.
At the tenth meeting of the First Section of the Sino-Japanese Commission to-day, the Japanese Commissioners submitted a proposal concerning land property. As this is related to Articles 23 and 24 of the Shantung Treaty the discussion centred on the interpretation of these two Articles. The Commission did not come to a, conclusion and it was decided to continue the conversation at the next meeting.—Reuter.
Peking, Aug. d.
A Chinese communique explaining the difference of opinion at yesterday's meeting. of the Sino-Japanese Commission says that the Japanese Commissioners desired that the leases of ownership of land held by Japanese at Kiaochou should be continued, if not extended, even after the formal transfer of the administration of Kiaochou to_ China.
The Chinese, replying, referred to, Article XXIV, which provided that. "vested rights lawfully and equity ably acquired" should be respected, also that ''all questions relating to the status and validity of such vested rights acquired by the Japanese shall be adjusted by the Joint Com-
The Chinese pointed out that some of the lands owned and leased by Japanese are agricultural] lands, and agriculture is not one of the lawful pursuits permitted the Japanese, as Article XI of the agreed terms of understanding recorded in the minutes of the Washington Conference specifically stipulates that "the term lawful pursuit? in Article XXIII shall not be construed as to include agrioulture or any enterprise prohibited by Chinese law or not permitted to foreign nations by the treaties between China and foreign Powers."
The Chinese again emphasized that the Sino-Japanese Commission would be empowered to review the status and validity of such vested rights.
The Japanese denied that the Commission could exercise such a power or review over the validity of such leases of ownership. They were prepared only to admit its competence as regards the status of the land.
Finally the meeting adjourned with the understanding that the discussion would be resumed.
The Chinese communique recalls that the Japanese note of September last year: offered to settle the Shantung question on certain terms, one of which was that Japanese should be permitted to engage in agriculture, but China declined these overtures.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.