kade on
Germany, and the same is being persistently carried out.
It is, therefore, difficult for Germany to cancel her
blockade policy. The Imperial Government is nevertheless
willing to comply with the wishes of the Government of
China by opening negotiations to arrive at a plan for the
protection of Chinese life and property, with the view
that the end may be achieved and thereby utmost regard be
given to the shipping rights of China. The reason which
has prompted the Imperial Government to adopt this
conciliatory policy is the knowledge that, once diplomatic
relations are severed with Germany, China will not only
lose a truly good friend, but will also be entangled in
unthinkable difficulties.

In forwarding to Your Excellency the above instructions
from my home Government, I also beg to state that, if
the Government of China be willing, I am empowered to
open negotiations for the protection of the shipping
rights of China.

Imagine how disconcerting that reply must have been, since China has
never had any ships in the war zone. Still less has she had any that
have been or might possibly be sunk. With that excuse cut from under
her, she is at present under the painful suspicion that this desire to
uphold the sanctity of international law has been imposed from without.
One is almost forced to the conclusion that it is imposed by those
nations which themselves have been most flagrant violators of
international law, upon Chinese territory. But be that as it may.

So much has been happening lately, that perhaps I have forgotten to
mention a certain phase of international activity referred to in the
German reply, that is, the employment of Chinese subjects behind the
firing-lines in Europe. For a year past Chinese coolies have been
recruited for service in France, paid of course, though probably not
paid liberally, nor told frankly what they are being let in for. The
French colonies have also been drafting their subjects for work in
France. When we went down to the tropics in December, we traveled on a
ship gathering coolies, mobilized not as soldiers but as laborers. The
captain of our ship told us that up to date (December, 1916) France had
already imported some forty thousand Annamites for work in munition
factories, agricultural work, and noncombatant service behind the lines.
The ship we were on was carrying some fourteen hundred of these li