The Chinese Government replied last week to the Japanese offer
to restore Shantung on certain terms. They took the line that the German lease of Shantung expired when China declared war upon Germany—on August 14th, 1917—and that Japan had no right to be there after that date. China required the " unconditional return " of the Shantung railway " in exchange for payment," and the removal of the Japanese troops. The Times Peking correspondent says that the reply was worded in an unconciliatory manner, to impress the political opponents of the Government. From the international point of view this is unfortunate, as the military party in Japan is in no humour to be ordered out of Shantung by anyone, and certainly not by the Peking Ministry. Japan has a claim to consideration in that she freed China from the Germans, and the Chinese would do well to take Japan at her word when she offers to make terms.
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