Shandong Problem

The Shandong Problem (zh-tsp|t=山東問題|s=山东问题|p=Shāndōng wèntí) refers to the dispute over Article 156 of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The Article transferred German concessions in Shandong, China to Japan rather than returning sovereign authority to China, despite Chinese protests. The Chinese embassy to Paris, Wellington Koo, stated that the Chinese could not concede Shandong, which was the birthplace of Confucius, an important Chinese philosopher, as much as Christians could not concede Jerusalem, and demanded the returning of sovereignty over Shandong, to no avail. Chinese outrage over this provision led to demonstrations and a cultural movement known as the May Fourth Movement and influenced Wellington Koo not to sign the treaty. China declared the end of its war against Germany in September 1919 and signed a separate treaty with Germany in 1921.

The dispute was mediated by the United States in 1922 during the Washington Naval Conference, and the sovereignty of Shandong was agreed to be returned to China on February 4, while Japanese residents in Shandong were given special rights.

ee also

*May Fourth Movement
*Sino-German cooperation (1911-1941)