Why did President Roosevelt not offer a Gentlemen’s Agreement to China in 1907?
A.
Chinese students were not segregated in San Francisco.
B.
China was too powerful an empire to risk such a bold diplomatic move.
C.
The United States did not want to discourage the migration of skilled Chinese.
D.
China at the time was too weak and lacking in influence to require such a compromise.
D. China at the time was too weak and lacking in influence to require such a compromise.
To determine the reason why President Roosevelt did not offer a Gentlemen's Agreement to China in 1907, we can analyze the options provided:
A. Chinese students were not segregated in San Francisco.
This option is not a valid reason for not offering a Gentlemen's Agreement to China. The presence or absence of segregation of Chinese students in San Francisco does not directly relate to the decision of a Gentlemen's Agreement.
B. China was too powerful an empire to risk such a bold diplomatic move.
This option is incorrect. At the time, China was experiencing political and economic decline, making it unlikely that they were considered too powerful an empire to risk a diplomatic move.
C. The United States did not want to discourage the migration of skilled Chinese.
This option is plausible. Historically, there were tensions between the United States and Chinese immigrants due to racial discrimination and competition for jobs. However, the United States may have been interested in welcoming skilled Chinese immigrants, which could have influenced the decision not to pursue the Gentlemen's Agreement.
D. China at the time was too weak and lacking in influence to require such a compromise.
This option seems to provide a logical reason for Roosevelt not offering a Gentlemen's Agreement to China. China was indeed facing internal turmoil and lacked international influence during that period. Therefore, it is plausible that the United States did not see the need to reach such a compromise with an increasingly weaker China.
Based on the analysis, the likely correct answer is: D. China at the time was too weak and lacking in influence to require such a compromise.