Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-25
CH|NA'S PLEA
AGAINST SUBS
Many Chinese Had Lost Lives
and More Were Threatened
By German Course.
TO FOLLOW AMERICAS LEAD
Both Germany and Japan En-
deavored to Restrain Ce-
lestials From Action.

Correspondence Of The Associated Press)
PEKING, March 24.-China doci-
sion to join with the United States in
its protest against the new German
submarine campaign was received
with marKou enthusiasm by great
majority of the Chinese press
For days before the cabinet reached
the decision to support the American
position, the more progressive news.
papers and younger members of par
lament were active in urging China
TO assert itself and take an interna-
tlonal position along with the great
world powers which are resisting the
new submarine regulations.
II was new China, rather than old
China, which aligned itself with the
United States. Many of the older
members of the cabinet, as well as
older parliamentl' were opposed
to the movement.
German financiers and diplomatists
worked hard to prevent China from
taking a position along with the
United states. Offers of loans were
made, the past acts of friendship on
the part of Germany were recalled,
and the recent aggression" on the
part of Japan was cited by the Ger
mans as a reason why China should
woke her aid in preventing japanese
expansion after the war.
Japan was Opposed.
Japan's opposition to China's en-
trance into the war, which prevented
Chint from becoming a belligercnt
on two previous occasions, was not
wholly relaxed. japanese politicians
worked far more quietly, however
than on previous occasions. The in
vitation from the United States for
China to join in the protest against
the German submarine campaign was
far different from the OVertures from
England. France and Russia for the
entrance of the Chinese republic into
the entente.
Much as the Chinese leaders dislike
TO see China take its position along
with the world powers with Il chance
that it will figure in the peace con-
ference following the present war,
they could not consistently offer open
opposition. China officials were soil
citously advised against haste, and
many efforts were made indirectly by
japanese to prevent China from ac-
cepting the invitation of the United
States
When the cabinet reported to
joint session of the house and senate
that il had decided to avail itself of
President Wilson's invitation, there
was much enthusiasm. All the MEM
bers of the cabinet appeared before
parliament and asserted that hun
dreds of Chinese lives already have
been lost as a result of the German
submarine campaign. very large
number of Chinese were killed when
the British steamer Harpalyce was
torpedoed between Rotterdam and
Newcastle Many Chinese were also
killed on French and japanese steam
crs torpedoed in the Mediterranean.
The cabinet members explained that
the extension of the German sub
marine campaign would mean a
greater loss of Chinese lives and prop
crty. Should the Chinese government
fail to protect against the new cam
paign, the cabinet members Insisted
that China would be supinely per
hitting new principles to be written
into international law which are
wholly in violation of human warfare.
viii Follow America.
Paul S. Reinsch, the American min
ister, has been highly praised by the
Chinese press for his successful ef-
forts in winning the leaders of the
Chinese government over to the posi-
ton of the United States and inducing
them to take a stand against the eX-
tension of the submarine campaign.
The Peking Daily Gazette, which is
q representative of the more modern
newspapers in China, says of the
Chinese action: "Altho the maximum
so far contemplated by China is sim
ply rupture of diplomatic relations
with Germany, it is quite certain that
she will not hesitate to follow wher
ever America may lead; and that the
United States will be involved in open
warfare almost Immediately is GER
tain"