Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/139



object to the disposal of important interests in which they themselves had a share, were not mere neutrals or outsiders but the allies of Japan, en- gaged in a life and death struggle at the time. As the twenty-one demands aimed at the estab- lishment of a predominant position in China through control of finance and armament, every other nation there interested would have been ad- versely affected by the proposed arrangement. The Chinese, though isolated, would not immedi- ately yield to the threatening attitude of their neighbor and the negotiations were strung out over months. Though they were assiduously kept secret, the nature of the transaction in general and in detail became quite well known outside, so that the results could not be kept hidden; yet the whole procedure constituted an affirmation that it was proper to deal with the destinies of a people in a secret council chamber, where the demandant backed by strong military forces, confronted the first official of a vast, peaceful but unmilitant na- tion, which would never in the world agree to such procedure and the resultant undertakings. Japan did indeed get certain concessions, but at the cost of making her diplomacy and policy universally suspected on account of the methods which had been used.