191 The Xu Shichang government during the May 4th Movement

On August 23, 1914, Japan declared war on Germany. After more than 70 days of fierce fighting, it occupied all the German leased lands on November 7. Jiaozhou Bay. In January 1915, Japan proposed the "Twenty-One Points" to China. On May 9, Yuan Shikai accepted most of the demands. This agreement, which Japan originally required to keep secret, became known to the press and the agreement was published. , aroused nationalist sentiments and made Chinese intellectuals and people strongly dissatisfied with Japan and the "traitorous" government, believing it to be a national humiliation. It also aroused many anti-Japanese activities. This sentiment was further developed during the May Fourth Movement. development and play a role. On August 14, 1917, the Beijing government declared war on Germany and became a "belligerent" in the First World War. In early 1918, Japan provided a large amount of loans to the Beijing government under the control of Duan Qirui, and assisted in the formation and equipment of a Chinese war army. Its loans were also used for the huge election bribery expenses of the Anfu Congress. In September of the same year, the Beijing government and Japan exchanged official documents on borrowing money from Japan. As one of the conditions for the loan, they also exchanged documents on the Shandong issue. The main contents are: 1. The Japanese army along the Jiaoji Railway; Except for one unit left in Jinan, all were mobilized in Qingdao. 2. Regarding the security along the Jiaoji Railway: the Japanese troops withdrew and were replaced by patrol teams commanded by the Japanese. 3. The Jiaoji Railway will be jointly operated by China and Japan. In the exchange of letters, the Beijing government "readily agreed" to Japan's proposal. Zhang Zongxiang, the minister to Japan, personally delivered the exchange of letters to the Japanese government, but was later severely beaten by Beijing students. In World War I, China declared war on Germany and was a victorious country like Japan. However, Germany's rights and interests in Shandong were not recovered, but were expanded by Japan. This exchange of notes became an excuse for Japan to occupy Shandong at the Paris Peace Conference.