As regards the demands in the fifth group, they all infringe China’s sovereignty, the treaty rights of other Powers or the principle of equal opportunity.  Although Japan did not indicate any difference between this group and the preceding four in the list which she presented to China in respect to their character, the Chinese Government, in view of their palpably objectionable features, persuaded itself that these could not have been intended by Japan as anything other than Japan’s mere advice to China.  Accordingly China has declared from the very beginning that while she entertains the most profound regard for Japan’s wishes, she was unable to admit that any of these matters could be made the subject of an understanding with Japan.  Much as she desired to pay regard to Japan’s wishes, China cannot but respect her own sovereign rights and the existing treaties with other Powers.  In order to be rid of the seed for future misunderstanding and to strengthen the basis of friendship, China was constrained to iterate the reasons for refusing to negotiate on any of the articles in the fifth group, yet in view of Japan’s wishes China has expressed her readiness to state that no foreign money was borrowed to construct harbour work in Fukien Province.  Thus it is clear that China went so far as to see a solution for Japan of a question that really did not admit of negotiation.  Was there, then, evasion, on the part of China?

Now, since the Japanese Government has presented a revised list of demands and declared at the same time, that it will restore the leased territory of Kiaochow, the Chinese Government reconsiders the whole question and herewith submits a new reply to the friendly Japanese Government.

In this reply the unsettled articles in the first group are stated again for discussion.

As regards the second group, those articles which have already been initialled are omitted.  In connection with the question of inland residence the police regulation clause has been revised in a more restrictive sense.  As for the trial of cases relating to land and lease contracts the Chinese Government now permits the Japanese Consul to send an officer to attend the proceedings.

Of the four demands in connection with that part of Eastern Inner Mongolia which is within the jurisdiction of South Manchuria and the Jehol intendency, China agrees to three.

China, also, agrees to the article relating to the Hanyehping Company as revised by Japan.

It is hoped that the Japanese Government will appreciate the conciliatory spirit of the Chinese Government in making this final concession and forthwith give her assent thereto.

There is one more point.  At the beginning of the present negotiations it was mutually agreed to observe secrecy but unfortunately a few days after the presentation of the demands by Japan an Osaka newspaper published an “Extra” giving the text of the demands.  The foreign and the Chinese press has since been paying considerable attention to this question and frequently publishing pro-Chinese or pro-Japanese comments in order to call forth the World’s conjecture—­a matter which the Chinese Government deeply regrets.