of the Russian Government in the matter of Shan- tung and the Pacific Islands. Will the Russian Government support Japan at the Peace Confer- ence in these matters? ' ' The Russian ambassador was requested to get the opinion of his govern- ment on this point. In other words, in return for a commission paid largely by China herself, the Japanese Government was ready to permit that China should join the Allies in the Great War. It was assumed by the Foreign Minister that Japan's persuasion should be necessary to induce China to take this step; but in fact, at the very time when this conversation between the minister and ambassador was going on, the Cab- inet of China was in the all-day session from which resulted the decision to follow the United States in breaking off relations with Germany. This step was taken without compulsion, urgency or the promise of advantages, upon a careful con- sideration of the underlying conditions and equi- ties, without assurances of gain, merely in the ex- pectation of fair treatment as an ally and as- sociate.
