thing is
done. The understanding million, and the three hundred and ninety-nine
millions who do not understand are negligible. At present there is a
good deal of talk about restoring the monarchy. You don't have to deal
with as many people in a monarchy as in a so-called republic. A
monarchy is a more wieldy body. China, however, a five-year-old
republic, is behaving just like any other democracy,--forever appealing
to the people, as if the people even in a democracy had any chance
against their masters and rulers.

Thus the "Peking Gazette," under date of Tuesday, March 1:

The Entente and China. Reported Allied Decision. A report
reaches us--which we have been unable to confirm--that,
the Entente Ministers and Charges d'Affaires in the
capital met at the French Legation on Tuesday and
considered the advisability of deputing the Japanese
Charge d'Affaires to call on the President, the
Vice-President and the Premier, to ascertain the decision
of the Chinese Government regarding further action against
Germany. In the event of failure on the part of the
Chinese Government to decide on the matter this week,
the report adds that a joint Allied inquiry will follow
next week.

In the absence of confirmation, we have to reserve comment
on what looks like an amazing blunder, if true. In the
meantime, we have to warn those concerned, that unless
they are bent on alienating the growing Chinese sympathy
for the Allied cause, and arresting the powerful movement
for some form of action, in association with or in
cooperation with the Entente, it will be well if anything
like Allied pressure be avoided at this juncture.

Since writing the foregoing--or rather as we go to
press--we learn from a responsible quarter that the French
Minister and the Belgian Charge d'Affaires called at the
Chinese Foreign Office yesterday afternoon and either
informally suggested or actually invited China to join the
Entente. In the name of the Allies, they are understood to
have promised the postponement of the instalments of the
Boxer indemnities accruing due and payable during the war,
and guaranteed the revision of the Chinese customs tariff.
We have just time to register our emphatic protest against
this proceeding; and limiting ourselves to the bare
statement of one of the many grave objections to this
action o