Scheme of Internationslization:
A Mixed Settlement and Chinese Gendarmerie Washington, May 16.
The establishment of an international port at Tsingtao is contemplated by Japan as soon as she can induce the Chinese Government to undertake negotiations for the relinquishment of Japanese control of the entire province of Shantung.
It is explained in Japanese quarters here that the internationalization of the port was insisted upon by Japan because the maintenance of a Japanese settlement at Tsingtao might invite demands from other maritime Powers for similar concessions which it was believed was impossible because Tsingtao was too small.
The Japanese propose to settle the question of the control of the mixed settlement by inviting the Chinese Government to establish gendarmerie of sufficient strength to ensure their ability to keep off the bandits who are swarming in Shantung.—U. 8. Navy Radio through Reuter.
Mr. Obata's Promise of Liberal Trea'ment Note:—Tho foregoing U. 8. Navy Radio message was received in Peking on May 17, but was not picked up in Shanghai. On May 18, Reuter's Peking correspondent tsiegraphed to Shanghai the official information that Mr. Obata, the Japanese Minister to China, prior to his departure for Japan at the beginning of May, had "remarked to the Chinese Government that Japan intended making representations to the Powers concerning the internationalization of Tsingtao, and that if the Powers concurred, Japan would make a definite proposal to China to that effect." Reuter's correspondent added that the Chinese Government had heard nothing of the matter since.
In this connexion, Mr. Obata's statement to a representative of the Osaka "Mainicht" on landing at Moji on May 13, is of special interest "Referring to the Shantung question, the Minister said that, as declared by the Japanese Foreign Office some time ago, Japan is ready to negotiate with the Chinese Government for the settlement of the problem at any time, if that Government so desires. China, however, is still undecided, and the matter is in abeyance. The reason why China hesitates to open negotiations with Japan is, in Mr. Obata's opinion, that she is apprehensive of very severe conditions being formulated by Japan for the settlement of the problem. The question will be easily solved if Janan draws up a very fair proposal and presents it to the Peking Government with the previous approval of the Powers. It admits of no doubt that China will endorse such. a course, if it is adopted by the Japanese Government."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.