In China, British and American influence has been predominant for a number of years. It was natural, therefore, that Chinese sympa thies would be with the Entente Allies. Yet China did not come out at first emphatically for the war. She restrained herself to making common cause with the Allies, due to her strained relation with Japan, and on account of the fact that the latter had pressed certain demands which were detrimental to the integ rity of the Chinese Republic. Events, however, rapidly forced China to abandon her attitude of quasi-neutrality. Shortly after America's sev erance of relations with Germany and Austria. China began to discuss similar action, on 14 Aug. 1917 she formally declared war against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Meanwhile the political situation in Manchuria became acute. Owing to the outbreak of the Russian Revolution (15 March 1917), an international crisis had been engendered in this region, which threatened the tranquillity of the entire Far East. There was some fighting in this province be tween the Russian Bolsheviks and other fellow citizens who disagreed with them. It became necessary to restore order, and a rumor was circulated in Russia that Japanese troops had been sent to Harbin for that purpose. The re port was false, but a Chinese division was sent to the spot to maintain order. At the beginning of 1918 similar troubles broke out at Vladivos tok. This fortified naval station is in the Rus sian maritime province, and it has been largely used during the war for the transmission of arms and 'munitions from Japan and the United States of America to Russia. A good many Japanese have settled there in this and other occupations. Tire full details of the mutiny that broke out in the garrison are not known, but the Japanese government became appre hensive for the safety of its subjects and con siderable amounts of property held there await ing shipment, owing to the uncertain revolution ary conditions prevailing in Russia. A squad ron was accordingly sent to Vladivostok to protect the persons and property of Japanese subjects. In order to show that the Entente Allies were agreed in this matter, the squadron was accompanied by a British warship. The
Japanese government, acting with great circum spection, apprised the American and French governments of its purpose, and thus preserved the appearance of an Allied front. But further than a well-backed-up threat to establish order, Japan was not allowed to go, for the United States did not join Great Britain and France in advocating the insertion of armed force into Russia, at that time.
In May 1918, China and Japan concluded an agreement for a defensive alliance against Ger many. Although the details of this agreement were not generally known, there is no doubt that the United States and other Allied govern ments were informed and probably consulted about the negotiations. The new treaty marked the beginning of a policy the purpose of which will be to check the free hand•of Germany and its activities in the Far East.
Bibliography.— Beresford, 'The Break-Up of China' (New York 1899) ; Brewster, The Evolution of New China' (New York 1907) ; Clement, 'A Short History ofJapan) (Chicago 1915); Colquhon, 'China in Transformation) (New York 1898) ; Conant, 'The United States in the Orient) (Boston 1900) ; Cur zon, 'Problems of the Far East' (2 vols., New York 1896) ; Douglas, 'Europe and the Far East) (Cambridge 1914) ; Gerard, 'Les Etats-Unis et l'Extreme Orient) (Revue des deux mondes, ser. 6, v. 43, Paris, 1911 Leroy-Beaulieu, 'The Awakening of East> (New York 1900); Macgowan, His tory of China> (Shanghai 1897); Madrolle, 'Chine du StuP (Paris 1916); Marc, 'Quelques arnifes de politzque internationale' (Leipzig 1914); 'Millard, 'The' New Far East' (New York 1906) ; Norman, 'Peoples and Polities of the Far East) (New York • 1897); 'The Awakening of (London 1905) ;• Porter, 'japan' (Oxford 1918) ; Reinsch, 'World Poli tics at the End of the Nineteenth Century' (New York 1900)Stanoyevich, 'Russian For eign Policy in the East' (Oakland 1916) ; Stead, 'Japan by the Japanese' (London 1904) ; Thomp son, 'China Revolutionized' (London 1913); Wu Ting-fang, 'The Awakening of China' (New York 1908).