Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-07
PEOPLE OF CHINA
STANDING WITH U. S.
Despite German and Japanese
Efforts to Contrary, SYM
pathy Unchanged.
WILL FOLLOW OUR LEAD

Correspondence OF The Associa ted Press)
Picking, March 20-China's deci-
sion to join with the United States in
its protest against the new German
submarine campaign was received
with marked enthusiasm by a great
majority of the Chinese press.
For days before the cabinet reached
the decision to support the Ameri-
can position the more progressive
newspapers and younger members Of
Parliament were active in urging
China to assert itself and take all in
ternational position along with the
great world powers, which are resist
ing the new submarine regulations.
1t 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 parliamentarians, were opposed
to the movement.
German fnanciers 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 reason why China should
retain Germany's friendship and in
woke its aid in preventing japanese
expansion after the war.
Japan's opposition to China's en-
trance into the war, which prevented
China from becoming belligerent 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 Japanese leaders dis
like to see China take its position
along with the world powers. with a
chance that it will figure in the peace
conference following the present war,
they could not consistently offer
open opposition. Chinese officials
were solicitously advised against
haste, and many efforts were made in
directly by Japanse to prevent China
from accepting the invitation of the
United States.
When the cabinet reported to
joint session of the house and senate
that it had decided to avail itself of
President Wilson's invitation, there
was much enthusiasm. Ali the men,
bers of the cabinet appeared before
Parliament and asserted that hun
dreds of Chinese lives already have
been lost as result of the German
submarine campaign. A 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
ers torpedoed in the Mediterranean.
The cabinet members explained that
the extension of the German subma-
rine campaign would mean a greater
loss to Chinese lives and property.
Should the Chinese government fail
to protest against the new campaign,
the cabinet members insisted that
China would be supinely permitting
new principles to be written into in
ternational law which are wholly in
violation of human warfare.
Paul S. Reinsch, the American min
lister, has been highly praised by the
Chinese press for his successful efforts
in winning the leaders of the Chinese
government over to the position of
the United States and including them
to take stand against the extension
OF the submarine campaign.
The Picking Daily Gazette, ..hich is
a representative of the more modern
newspapers in China says of the Chin
ese action: "Althoug the maximum
so far contemplated by China is SIM
ply rupture of diplomat; relations
with Germany, it is quite certain that
it will not hesitate to follow where
ever America may lead; and that the
United States will be involved in open
warfare almost immediatel is GER
%.