Chinese Government shall forthwith give its consent thereto.

3. When a suitable opportunity arises in the future the Chinese Government will send military officers to Japan to negotiate with Japanese military authorities the matter of purchasing arms or that of establishing joint arsenals.

Mr. Hioki, the Japanese Minister, stated as follows:

As relates to the question of propagating religion (Buddhism), the same shall be taken up again for negotiation in the future.

Q

CHINA'S REPLY TO THE JAPANESE
ULTIMATUM

The reply of the Chinese Government to the Ultimatum of the Japanese Government, delivered to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs on the 8th of May, 1915.

On the 7th of this month, at three o'clock P. M., the Chinese Government received an Ultimatum from the Japanese Government together with an Explanatory Note of seven articles. The Ultimatum concluded with the hope that the Chinese Government up to six o'clock P. M. on the 9th of May, will give a satisfactory reply, and it is hereby declared that if no satisfactory reply is received before or at the designated time, the Japanese Government will take steps she may deem necessary.

The Chinese Government with a view to preserving the peace of the Far East, hereby accepts, with the exception of those five articles of Group V postponed for later negotiation, all the articles of Groups I, II, III and IV, and the exchange of notes in connection with Fukien Province in Group V as contained in the revised proposals presented on the 26th of April and in accordance with the Explanatory Note of seven articles accompanying the Ultimatum of the Japanese Government with the hope that thereby all outstanding questions are settled, so that the cordial relationship between the two countries may be further consolidated. The Japanese Minister is hereby requested to appoint a day to call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make the literary improvement of the text and sign the Agreement as soon as possible.

R

AMERICAN NOTE OF PROTEST IN REGARD TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND CHINA

Delivered to the Chinese Government by the American Minister at Peking on May 16, 19151

In view of the circumstances of the negotiations which have taken place or which are now

'An identical note was handed to the Japanese Government through the American embassy at Tokyo.

pending between the Government of China and the Government of Japan and the agreements which have been reached and as a result thereof, the Government of the United States has the honour to notify the Government of the Chinese Republic that it cannot recognize any agreement or undertaking which has been entered into, or which may be entered into between the Governments of China and Japan impairing the treaty rights of the United States and its citizens in China, the political or territorial integrity of the Republic of China, or the international policy, commonly known as the open door policy.

S

THE PEKING PETITION

To the President of the United States, Washington: We whose names are subscribed to this petition and to the accompanying Memorial do most urgently beg that the American Government, in compliance with the high mandates of the Christian civilization of the twentieth century, and in defense of the vital interests of the American as well as of the Chinese republic, and in furtherance of the sacred cause of world peace on the Pacific . . will immediately, in

conjunction if possible with Great Britain and the other powers, but if necessary alone, demand of the Chinese-not the Japanese-government representation, as parties in interest, in the conferences on the Twenty-one Demands now proceeding, which demands vitally affect American and world interests guaranteed under the Open Door Agreement. We further beg that, pending the arrival of such representatives of America and of Great Britain and other powers, the Chinese and Japanese Governments shall be requested to suspend negotiations, in order that the interests of all nations may be effectively secured against infringement. And still further we beg that the governments both of China and Japan may be notified that the presence of unusual bodies of Japanese troops on Chinese soil at this time not only embarrasses freedom of negotiations but constitutes an outrage on the rights, and a serious menace to the peace and safety, of Americans and of foreigners generally, and that pending the removal of such excessive contingents of Japanese troops all negotiations should be suspended. With all sentiments of profound respect we submit this Petition and accompanying Memorial, claiming no superior wisdom but only superior opportunities of acquaintance with the situation in its present serious aspect, and in its inevitable future consequences. We request that if not incompatible with the public interest this Petition and Memorial, with our names attached, may be communicated to the Associated

Press for such further use as may serve the in

terests involved.

CHARLES F. HUBBARD,

Peking, Easter, 1915.

Minister of the Union Foreign Church.

W. A. P. MARTIN,

Ex-President of the Imperial University. CHAUNCEY GOODRICH,

Chairman of the Mandarin Revision Committee. H. H. LOWRY,

President of Peking University.

JOHN WHORRY,

Chairman of the Union Wen-Li Bible Revision
Committee.

COURTNEY H. FENN,

Principal Union Theological College.

EDWARD W. THWING,

Superintendent International Reform Bureau.

T

THE LANSING-ISHII AGREEMENT

EXCELLENCY:

Department of State,

Washington, November 2, 1917.

I have the honour to communicate herein my understanding of the agreement reached by us in our recent conversation touching the questions of mutual interest to our governments relating to the Republic of China.

In order to silence mischievous reports that have from time to time been circulated, it is believed by us that a public announcement once