The first document is purely introductory, but is none the less interesting.  It is a fragment, or rather a precis of the momentous conversation which took place between Yuan Shih-kai and the Japanese Minister when the latter personally served the Demands on the Chief Executive and took the opportunity to use language unprecedented even in the diplomatic history of Peking.

The precis begins in a curious way.  After saying that “the Japanese Minister tried to influence President Yuan Shih-kai with the following words,” several long lines of asterisks suggest that after reflection the unknown chronicler had decided, for political reasons of the highest importance, to allow others to guess how the “conversation” opened.  From the context it seems absolutely clear that the excised words have to deal with the possibility of the re-establishment of the Empire in China—­a very important conclusion in view of what followed later in the year.  Indeed there is no reason to doubt that the Japanese Envoy actually told Yuan Shih-kai that as he was already virtually Emperor it lay within his power to settle the whole business and to secure his position at one blow.  In any case the precis begins with these illuminating sentences: 

...  Furthermore, the Chinese revolutionists are in close touch and have intimate relations with numerous irresponsible Japanese, some of whom have great influence and whose policy is for strong measures.  Our Government has not been influenced by this policy, but if your Government does not quickly agree to these stipulations, it will be impossible to prevent some of our irresponsible people from inciting the Chinese revolutionists to create trouble in China.

The majority of the Japanese people are also opposed to President Yuan and Yuan’s Government.  They all declare that the President entertains anti-Japanese feeling and adopts the policy of “befriending the Far” (Europe and America) and “antagonizing the Near” (Japan).  Japanese public opinion is therefore exceedingly hostile.

Our Government has all along from first to last exerted its best efforts to help the Chinese Government, and if the Chinese Government will speedily agree to these stipulations it will have thus manifested its friendship for Japan.

The Japanese people will then be able to say that the President never entertained anti-Japanese feelings, or adopted the policy of “befriending the Far and antagonizing the Near.”  Will not this then be indeed a bona fide proof of our friendly relations?

    The Japanese Government also will then be inclined to render
    assistance to President Yuan’s Government whenever it is
    necessary....

We are admittedly living in a remarkable age which is making waste paper of our dearest principles.  But in all the welter which the world war has made it would be difficult to find anything more extraordinary than these few paragraphs.  Japan, through her official representative, boldly tears down the veil hiding her ambitions, and using the undoubted menace which Chinese revolutionary activities then held for the Peking Government, declares in so many words that unless President Yuan Shih-kai bows his head to the dictation of Tokio, the duel which began in Seoul twenty-five years ago would be openly resumed.