The French attitude about Shantung, at the same time, is indicated by
Notes which passed between France and Japan at Tokyo.[73] On February
19th, Baron Motono sent a communication to the French and Russian
Ambassadors stating, among other things, that "the Imperial Japanese
Government proposes to demand from Germany at the time of the peace
negotiations, the surrender of the territorial rights and special
interests Germany possessed before the war in Shantung and the islands
belonging to her situated north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean."
The French Ambassador, on March 2nd, replied as follows:--
The Government of the French Republic is disposed to give the
Japanese Government its accord in regulating at the time of the
Peace Negotiations questions vital to Japan concerning Shantung
and the German islands on the Pacific north of the equator. It
also agrees to support the demands of the Imperial Japanese
Government for the surrender of the rights Germany possessed
before the war in this Chinese province and these islands.
M. Briand demands on the other hand that Japan give its support
to obtain from China the breaking of its diplomatic relations
with Germany, and that it give this act desirable significance.
The consequences in China should be the following:
First, handing passports to the German diplomatic agents and
consuls;
Second, the obligation of all under German jurisdiction to leave
Chinese territory;
Third, the internment of German ships in Chinese ports and the
ultimate requisition of these ships in order to place them at the
disposition of the Allies, following the example of Italy and
Portugal;
Fourth, requisition of German commercial houses, established in
China; forfeiting the rights of Germany in the concessions she
possesses in certain ports of China.
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