was sent to Parliament for decision.
After a stormy debate of several hours in the Lower House the policy of
the Government was upheld by 330 votes to 87: on the following day the
Senate endorsed this decision by 158 votes to 37. By a coincidence which
was too extraordinary not to have been artificially contrived, the
long-awaited German reply arrived on the morning of this 10th March,
copies of the document being circulated wholesale by German agents among
the Members of Parliament in a last effort to influence their decision.
The actual text of the German reply was as follows, and it will be seen
how transparently worded it is:

_To the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China_:

YOUR EXCELLENCY: By the instructions of my home Government--which
reached me on the 10th inst.--I beg to forward you the following
reply to China's protest to the latest blockade policy of Germany:--

"The Imperial German Government expresses its great surprise at the
action threatened by the Government of the Republic of China in its
Note of protest. Many other countries have also protested, but
China, which has been in friendly relations with Germany, is the
only State which has added a threat to its protest. The surprise is
doubly great, because of the fact that, as China has no shipping
interests in the seas of the barred zones, she will not suffer
thereby.

"The Government of the Republic of China mentions that loss of life
of Chinese citizens has occurred as the results of the present
method of war. The Imperial German Government wishes to point out
that the Government of the Republic of China has never communicated
with the Imperial Government regarding a single case of this kind
nor has it protested in this connexion before. According to reports
received by the Imperial Government, such losses as have been
actually sustained by Chinese subjects have occurred in the firing
line while they were engaged in digging trenches and in other war
services. While thus engaged, they were exposed to the dangers
inevitable to all forces engaged in war. The fact that Germany has
on several occasions protested against the employment of Chinese
citizens for warlike purpose is evidence that the Imperial
Government has given excellent proof of its friendly feelings toward
China. In consideration of these friendly relations the Impe