“I have examined with the care which the gravity of the question demands the note concerning peace which President Wilson has addressed to the Governments of the Allies and the Central Powers now at war and the text of which Your Excellency has been good enough to transmit to me under instructions of your Government.

“China, a nation traditionally pacific, has recently again manifested her sentiments in concluding treaties concerning the pacific settlement of international disputes, responding thus to the voeux of the Peace Conference held at the Hague.

“On the other hand, the present war, by its prolongation, has seriously affected the interests of China, more so perhaps than those of other Powers which have remained neutral.  She is at present at a time of reorganization which demands economically and industrially the co-operation of foreign countries, a co-operation which a large number of them are unable to accord on account of the war in which they are engaged.

“In manifesting her sympathy for the spirit of the President’s Note, having in view the ending as soon as possible of the hostilities, China is but acting in conformity not only with her interests but also with her profound sentiments.

“On account of the extent which modern wars are apt to assume and the repercussions which they bring about, their effects are no longer limited to belligerent States.  All countries are interested in seeing wars becoming as rare as possible.  Consequently China cannot but show satisfaction with the views of the Government and people of the United States of America who declare themselves ready, and even eager, to co-operate when the war is over, by all proper means to assure the respect of the principle of the equality of nations, whatever their power may be, and to relieve them of the peril of wrong and violence.  China is ready to join her efforts with theirs for the attainment of such results which can only be obtained through the help of all.”

Already, then, before there had been any question of Germany’s ruthless submarine war necessitating a decisive move, China had commenced to show that she could not remain passive during a world-conflict which was indirectly endangering her interests.  America, by placing herself in direct communication with the Peking Government on the subject of a possible peace, had given a direct hint that she was solicitous of China’s future and determined to help her as far as possible.  All this was in strict accordance with the traditional policy of the United States in China, a policy which although too idealistic to have had much practical value—­being too little supported by battleships and bayonets to be respected—­has nevertheless for sixty years tempered the wind to the shorn lamb.  The ground had consequently been well prepared for the remarkable denouement which came on the 9th February, 1917, and which surprised all the world.