the "Shanghai Times," a British paper, under the date
of February 12 throws some light upon the matter. The article is
entitled "China's Course Clear"; the italics are mine.

To those of us who live in this corner of the Far East, a
question of paramount importance is the attitude which the
Republic of China is likely to take up in regard to the
war. The pendulum of Fate may swing in our favor, and the
Peking Government--acting on the counsels of its statesmen
_and its friends_--may decide to unite its forces with the
Allies. This is a question which interests us
individually, it touches our daily lives, and becomes a
theme of much discussion at a moment when neutrals are
emphasizing to the Hun their rights and their insistence
of Germany's recognition of these privileges.... Germans
in Shanghai and possibly other ports are to-day existing
on the instalments which are being paid as Boxer
Indemnity. _The Germans have big interests up north in
railway and other enterprises; they penetrated the Customs
and captured positions in other Government circles. There
is a great deal at stake in China._

This frank and lucid statement contains food for thought. It may
possibly lie at the root of China's sudden acquisition of moral
strength. It is true that the Japanese have acquired Shan-tung since
the war, but there are "big interests up north in railway and other
enterprises" which have not yet been captured. Fat plums which may
yet be shaken into some expectant lap. But will the Chinese, in spite
of their ample skirts, have laps wide enough to catch them? Would it
not be well to see that these ripe plums do not fall into the lap of
Chinese incompetence?

The Lord knows.

V

FEAR OF THE PLUNGE

China is now wavering on the brink. Having despatched her two notes,
and thereby proclaimed herself worthy to rank as a first-class power,
with a seat at the Peace Table promised her, and all the benefits
which accrue therefrom, she still hesitates to make the break.
Unquestionably several of her officials and other prominent men have
already succumbed to what the papers call "foreign influence," lured
by the words of spellbinders, but there are others who are stoutly
resisting all appeals, and who see in such a step dire calamity for
the country. The fact that China has no real reason to break with
Germany makes the decision more difficult. A plausible