The whole Chinese nation has again been roused to boiling indignation by the Japanese note, asking China to open direct negotiations with Japan on the Shantung question. In one voice, the people from all quarters of the country have raised their objection to following such a procedure ious arguments have been nood against negotiating with Japan.
While other classes have declared their opposition in moderate and} mild but no less firm tones. the students have not minced matters. one and all clamouring that the Japanese note be returned in its original form and envelope-'A deputation of 10 boy and girl students at Peking waited upon Mr. Lu Cheng-hsiang at noon on the 27th instant: but as Mr. Lu was at the President's office, they could not see him. At 4 p.m., they returned, but Mr. Lu refused to see them on the plea of tooth-ache.
In the afternoon the next day, they again called to see Mr. Lu, and were admitted to his presence. They requested him to reject the Japaneze proposal. Mr. Lu said that the matter was of such great unanimous opinion of both the importance that it required the Government andthe people to back up the diplomatic offers of the Foreign Office before he could act with any hope of success. He said he would talk of this question again after all parties had expressed their opinions. The deputation asked him to fix a date on which to hold a reception. in his honour and to hear him report on his mission to Europe. Mr. Lu
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.