he Imperial Government opened the present
negotiations with the Chinese Government is first to endeavour to
dispose of the complications arising out of the war between Japan
and China, and secondly to attempt to solve those various questions
which are detrimental to the intimate relations of China and Japan
with a view to solidifying the foundation of cordial friendship
subsisting between the two countries to the end that the peace of
the Far East may be effectually and permanently preserved. With this
object in view, definite proposals were presented to the Chinese
Government in January of this year, and up to to-day as many as
twenty-five conferences have been held with the Chinese Government
in perfect sincerity and frankness.

In the course of the negotiation the Imperial Government have
consistently explained the aims and objects of the proposals in a
conciliatory spirit, while on the other hand the proposals of the
Chinese Government, whether important or unimportant, have been
attended to without any reserve.

It may be stated with confidence that no effort has been spared to
arrive at a satisfactory and amicable settlement of those questions.

The discussion of the entire corpus of the proposals was practically
at an end at the twenty-fourth conference; that is on the 17th of
the last month. The Imperial Government, taking a broad view of the
negotiation and in consideration of the points raised by the Chinese
Government, modified the original proposals with considerable
concessions and presented to the Chinese Government on the 26th of
the same month the revised proposals for agreement, and at the same
time it was offered that, on the acceptance of the revised
proposals, the Imperial Government would, at a suitable opportunity,
restore, with fair and proper conditions, to the Chinese Government
the Kiaochow territory, in the acquisition of which the Imperial
Government had made a great sacrifice.

On the 1st of May, the Chinese Government delivered the reply to the
revised proposals of the Japanese Government, which is contrary to
the expectations of the Imperial Government. The Chinese Government
not only did not give a careful consideration to the revised
proposals but even with regard to the offer of the Japanese
Government to restore Kiaochow to the Chinese Gover