May 3, 1919

A Chinese manifesto, in many languages, is being circulated with the connivance and perhaps even with the authorization of Mr. Koo and the delegation. Some of it has gotten into the Paris papers. The anonymous author says that China has been stabbed to the heart in the house of its friends.

“We are surprised, grieved and nonplussed,” runs the statement. “After nibbling at the question for weeks, the Big Four turned the matter over to Mr. Balfour, a surprising ineptitude, as he is the sponsor if not the father of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.” It concludes with the statement that Mr. Wilson in consenting to the Shantung settlement has thrown over his own experts who admit that the arrangement, even if it should be merely regarded as a temporary expedient, is most unfair to the Chinese.