Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1908-12-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence.
There have been hints OF nego-
tiations OF Secretary Root with
the Japanese Ambassador and
now tIlese hints have assumed a
more tangible form and the war
cloud which the French and the
European papers 30 sensational
" hvpothecated a year ago is
quite dissipated.
Doubtless the visit OF our feet
and it's hospitable reception in
Yokohama and Toto has had a
pacific influence az had also Mr..
'Taft's genial presence there and
his assurance at the Toxic ban
quet and in private CONVEX sation
with japanese statesmen, and
now the knowledge that for the
next four years he will be com.
mander in chief Of the. Army and
Navy-all this is conducive to
the dissipation of a casus belli
that never had any existence ex-
cept in imagination. The agree
lnent between the countries rep
resented by the banner OF the su n
and the stars and stripes is bas-
ed on the idea of maintaining
free international trade and com
merce in the pacific ocean. 1t has
for it's foundation a mutual guar
antee to respect territorial pos
sessions in the Orient and also
defines the attitude Of the two
countries toward China, binding
both the United States and Ja-
Ian to maintain by every peace
full means China's independence
and the integrity of the terrific
ry and to give equal commercial
opportunities in the Chinese pos
sessions to other nations.
The most important clause in
the agreement, however, is en-
qodied inan agreement between
the United States and Japan
that if anything should happen
to menace the peaceful status
quo the United State and Japan
must consult each other with q
view to pacifcatory action. 1t
will be readily seen that while
this Is not an aIliancssuch as ,ex-
lists between England and. Japan
it is a formal intente that will be
recognized by the two countries
as an augury and a bond Of
peace. 1t is interesting TO reflect
that this agreement is published
almost ultaneously with the
German Emperor's lurid predir-
tion that the United States and
Japan would soon be at war. l
believe he mentioned ten months
as the limit OF peaceful relations.
The agreement Of the, two coun-
tries has been drawn up in the
form OF a declaration consisting
of five articles, the first OF which
expresses the desire of the two
governments to encourage free
and peaceful development of
their commerce in the Paci fic O.
cean; the second naturally dis
claims any any aggressive de-
signs and ennunciates the policy
ofeach government no th as direc
ted to uphold existing relations
and the defense of the principle
OF equal opportunity for COM
merce and industry in China.
The third article states the firm
resolution Of each government to
respect the territorial posses
sions OF the other in the Pacific.
In the fourth article the I W o.
countries ennunciate their deter
mination to support by all peace
ful means the independence and
integrity of China and the IDA OF
open, commercial and industrial
opportunity fora allnations in the
Chinese Empire The fifth article
pledges the two Governments in
case of war "the occurrence OF
any event threatening the stat
80 -