Within forty-eight hours of this passage-at-arms of the 1st May it was understood in Peking that Japan was meditating a serious step.  That vague feeling of unrest which so speedily comes in capitals when national affairs reach a crisis was very evident, and the word “ultimatum” began to be whispered.  It was felt that whilst China had held to her rights to the utmost and had received valuable indirect support from both England and the United States, the world-situation was such that it would be difficult to prevent Japan from proceeding to extremities.  Accordingly there was little real surprise when on the 7th May Japan filed an ultimatum demanding a satisfactory reply within 48 hours to her Revised Demands—­failing which those steps deemed necessary would be taken.  A perusal of the text of the Ultimatum will show an interesting change in the language employed.  Coaxing having failed, and Japan being ’now convinced that so long as she did not seek to annex the rights of other Foreign Powers in China open opposition could not be offered to her,’ states her case very defiantly.  One significant point, however, must be carefully noted—­that she agrees “to detach Group V from the present negotiations and to discuss it separately in the future.”  It is this fact which remains the sword of Damocles hanging over China’s head; and until this sword has been flung back into the waters of the Yellow Sea the Far Eastern situation will remain perilous.

JAPAN’S ULTIMATUM TO CHINA

Japan’s Ultimatum delivered by the Japanese Minister to the Chinese Government, on May 7th, 1915.

The reason why the Imperial Government opened the present negotiations with the Chinese Government is first to endeavour to dispose of the complications arising out of the war between Japan and China, and secondly to attempt to solve those various questions which are detrimental to the intimate relations of China and Japan with a view to solidifying the foundation of cordial friendship subsisting between the two countries to the end that the peace of the Far East may be effectually and permanently preserved.  With this object in view, definite proposals were presented to the Chinese Government in January of this year, and up to today as many as twenty-five conferences have been held with the Chinese Government in perfect sincerity and frankness.

In the course of the negotiation the Imperial Government have consistently explained the aims and objects of the proposals in a conciliatory spirit, while on the other hand the proposals of the Chinese Government, whether important or unimportant, have been attended to without any reserve.

It may be stated with confidence that no effort has been spared to arrive at a satisfactory and amicable settlement of those questions.