The Chinese themselves, it is hoped, will be gradually
cajoled into acquiescing in this very extraordinary state of
affairs, because being unorganized and split into suspicious
groups, they can be manipulated in such a way as to offer no
effective mass resistance to the Japanese advance, and in the end
may be induced to accept it as inevitable.
If the reader keeps these great facts carefully in mind, a new
light will dawn on him and the urgency of the Chinese question
will be disclosed. The Japanese Demands of 1915, instead of being
fantastic and far-fetched, as many have supposed, are shown to be
very intelligently drawn-up, the entire Treaty position in China
having been most exhaustively studied, and every loophole into the
vast region left untouched by the exterritorialized Powers marked
down for invasion. For Western nations, in spite of exorbitant
demands at certain periods in Chinese history, having mainly
limited themselves to acquiring coastal and communication
privileges, which were desired more for genuine purposes of trade
than for encompassing the destruction of Chinese autonomy, are to-
day in a disadvantageous position which the Japanese have shown
they thoroughly understand by not only tightening their hold on
Manchuria and Shantung, but by going straight to the root of the
matter and declaring on every possible occasion that they alone
are responsible for the peace and safety of the Far East,--and
this in spite of the fact that their plan of 1915 was exposed and
partially frustrated.
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