China negotiated with Japan about the Twenty-one Demands, and secured certain modifications, but was finally compelled to yield by an ultimatum.  There was a modification as regards the Hanyehping mines on the Yangtze, presumably to please us; and the specially obnoxious fifth group was altered into an exchange of studiously vague Notes.[67] In this form, the demands were accepted by China on May 9, 1915.  The United States immediately notified Japan that they could not recognize the agreement.  At that time America was still neutral, and was therefore still able to do something to further the objects for which we were supposed to be fighting, such as protection of the weaker nations.  In 1917, however, after America had entered the war for self-determination, it became necessary to placate Japan, and in November of that year the Ishii-Lansing Agreement was concluded, by which “the Government of the United States recognizes that Japan has special interests in China, particularly for the parts to which her possessions are contiguous.”  The rest of the agreement (which is long) consists of empty verbiage.[68]

I come now to the events leading up to China’s entry into the war.[69] In this matter, the lead was taken by America so far as severing diplomatic relations was concerned, but passed to Japan as regards the declaration of war.  It will be remembered that, when America broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, President Wilson called upon all neutrals to do likewise.  Dr. Paul S. Reinsch, United States Minister in Peking, proceeded to act with vigour in accordance with this policy.  He induced China first, on February 9, 1917, to send a Note of expostulation to Germany on the subject of the submarine campaign; then, on March 14th, to break off diplomatic relations.  The further step of declaring war was not taken until August 14th.  The intrigues connected with these events deserve some study.

In view of the fact that the Japanese were among the Allies, the Chinese had not any strong tendency to take sides against Germany.  The English, French and Russians had always desired the participation of China (for reasons which I shall explain presently), and there appears to have been some suggestion, in the early days of the war, that China should participate in return for our recognizing Yuan Shi-k’ai as Emperor.  These suggestions, however, fell through owing to the opposition of Japan, based partly on hostility to Yuan Shi-k’ai, partly on the fear that China would be protected by the Allies if she became a belligerent.  When, in November 1915, the British, French and Russian Ambassadors in Tokyo requested Japan to join in urging China to join the Allies, Viscount Ishii said that “Japan considered developments in China as of paramount interest to her, and she must keep a firm hand there.  Japan could not regard with equanimity the organization of an efficient Chinese army such as would be required for her active participation in the war, nor could