had protested sooner, had sent any word as to her
specific losses, the matter would have been looked into at once. As
China has never had any ships that navigate in European waters, or in
other seas included in the war zone, this solicitous reply was not
without irony. I quote the reply:

To the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
China.

Your Excellency: By the instructions of my home
government, which reached me at 7 P. M. on the 10th
instant, [March 10, 1917], I beg to forward you the
following reply to China's protest to the latest blockade
policy of Germany: The Imperial German Government
expresses its great surprise at the threat used by the
Government of the Republic of China in its note of
protest. Many other countries have also protested, but
China, which has been in friendly relations with Germany,
is the only state which has added a threat to its protest.
The surprise is doubly great because of the fact that as
China has no shipping interests in the seas of blockaded
zones, she will not suffer thereby.

The Government of the Republic of China mentions that loss
of life of Chinese citizens has occurred as the result of
the present method of war. The Imperial German Government
wishes to point out that the Government of the Republic of
China has never communicated with the Imperial Government
regarding a single case of this kind, nor has it protested
in this connection before. According to reports received
by the Imperial Government, such losses as have been
actually sustained by Chinese subjects have occurred in
the firing line while they were engaged in digging
trenches and other war service. While thus engaged, they
were exposed to the dangers inevitable to all forces
engaged in war. The fact that Germany has on several
occasions protested against the employment of Chinese
subjects for warlike purposes is evidence that the
Imperial Government has given excellent proof of its
friendly feelings towards China. In consideration of
these friendly relations the Imperial Government is
willing to treat the matter as if the threat had never
been uttered. It is reasonable for the Imperial Government
to expect that the Government of the Republic of China
will revise its views respecting the question.

Germany's enemies were the first to declare a bloc