of Great Britain's ally. War was declared on August 24, 1914, nine
days after Japan had dispatched to Germany an ultimatum, which Germany
scornfully ignored.

The text of the ultimatum was as follows: "We consider it highly
important and necessary in the present situation to take measures to
remove the causes of all disturbance of peace in the Far East, and to
safeguard general interests as contemplated in the agreement of
alliance between Japan and Great Britain.

"In order to secure firm and enduring peace in eastern Asia, the
establishment of which is the aim of the agreement, the Japanese
Government sincerely believes it to be its duty to give advice to the
German Government to carry out the following two propositions:

"(1) To withdraw immediately from Japanese and Chinese waters the
German warships and armed vessels of all kinds, and to disarm those
which cannot be withdrawn.

"(2) To deliver on a date not later than September 15 to the Japanese
authorities, without condition or compensation, the entire leased
territory of Kiao-chau, with a view to the eventual restoration of the
same to China.

"The Japanese Government announces at the same time that in the event
of its not receiving by noon on August 23, 1914, an answer from the
German Government signifying unconditional acceptance of the above
advice offered by the Japanese Government, Japan will be compelled
to take such action as it may deem necessary to meet the situation."

[Illustration: Kiao-Chau (Tsing-Tau).]

The intervention of Japan in the war, welcome as it was to Great
Britain, created special problems for that empire. The British in
China, and the people of Australia, New Zealand, and western North
America had long been uneasy regarding the commercial and political
policy of Japan. On the Pacific Coast of the United States and Canada
a strong anti-Japanese sentiment had developed. British statesmen were
apprehensive lest the entry of Japan into the war might be used to
alienate American sympathy from the Allies and diminish the zeal of
the Canadian and Australasian colonies for the war.

To meet this situation, the British Government issued a formal
statement which said: "It is understood that the action of Japan shall
not extend to the Pacific Ocean beyond the China Sea, except in so far
as it may be necessary to protect Japanese shipping lines in the
Pacific, nor beyond Asiatic waters westward of the China Seas, nor to
any foreign terr