it, had dared to draft a complete reply to the revised
Demands and had reduced Japanese redundancy to effective limits. Not
only were various articles made more compact, but the phraseology
employed conveyed unmistakably, if in a somewhat subtle way, that China
was not a subordinate State treating with a suzerain. Moreover, after
dealing succinctly and seriously with Groups I, II and III, the Chinese
reply terminates abruptly, the other points in the Japanese List being
left entirely unanswered. It is important to seize these points in the
text that follows.

CHINA'S REPLY TO REVISED DEMANDS

China's Reply of May 1, 1915, to the Japanese Revised Demands of
April 26, 1915.

GROUP I

The Chinese Government and the Japanese Government, being desirous
of maintaining the general peace in Eastern Asia and further
strengthening the friendly relations and good neighbourhood existing
between the two nations, agree to the following articles:--

Article I. The Chinese Government declares that they will give full
assent to all matters upon which the Japanese and German Governments
may hereafter mutually agree, relating to the disposition of all
interests, which Germany, by virtue of treaties or recorded cases,
possesses in relation to the Province of Shantung.

The Japanese Government declares that when the Chinese Government
give their assent to the disposition of interests above referred to,
Japan will restore the leased territory of Kiaochow to China; and
further recognize the right of the Chinese Government to participate
in the negotiations referred to above between Japan and Germany.

Article 2. The Japanese Government consents to be responsible for
the indemnification of all losses occasioned by Japan's military
operation around the leased territory of Kiaochow. The customs,
telegraphs and post offices within the leased territory of Kiaochow
shall, prior to the restoration of the said leased territory to
China, be administered as heretofore for the time being. The
railways and telegraph lines erected by Japan for military purposes
are to be removed forthwith. The Japanese troops now stationed
outside the original leased territory of Kiaochow are now to be
withdrawn first, those within the original leased territory are to
be withdrawn on the restoration of the said leased territory to
China.