File No. 793.94/209.
Minister Reinsch to the Secretary of State.
Peking, January 23, 1915—7 p.m.
Serious tension again exists between the Chinese and Japanese Governments. The Japanese Minister has submitted a long list of demands at the same time pledging the President and Ministers of State not to divulge the character of the demands to other Powers on pain of serious consequences to China. The demands are stated to be such as could not be granted without abandoning entirely the open-door policy as well as independence in political and industrial matters. It is feared that refusal to comply will be met by causing trouble to China through instigation of revolutionary movements which would offer pretext for military occupation.