Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-12-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

from Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. G., Nov. 2S.-There
have been hints of negotiations of Sec
rotary Root with the Japanese Ambas-
sador and now these hints have assum-
ed more tangible form and the war
cloud which the French and other Eu-
ropean papers so sensationally hypoth-
ecated year ago is quite dissipated.
Doubtless the visit of our fleet and its
hospitable reception in Yokohama and
Toxic has had a pacific influence as had
also Mr.. Taft's genial presence there
and his assurances at the Toxic banquet
and in private conversations with Japa-
nese statesmen, and now the knowl-
edge that for the next four years he
will be commander-in-chief of the
army and navy-all this is conducive
to the dissipation of casus belli that
never had any existence except to i'm
agination. The agreement between the
countries represented by the bannefof
the sun and the stars and strips is based
on the idea of maintaining free inter-
national trade and commerce in the
Pacific Ocean. 1t has for its founda-
ton mutual guarantee to respect ter
ritorial possessions in the Orient and
also defines the attitude of the two
countries toward China, binding both
the United States and Japan to main
tain by every peaceful means China s
independence and the integrity of her
territory and to give equal commercial
opportunities in the Chinese possessions
to other nations. The most important
clause in the agreement, however, is
embodied in an agreement between the
United States and Japan that if any
thing should happen to meance the
peaceful status quo the United States
and Japan must consult each other
with view to mutual pacificatory ac-
ton. 1t will be readily seen that while
this is not an alliance such as exists be-
tween England and Japan it is a formal
entente that will be recognized by the
two countries as an augury and bond
of peace. 1t is interesting to reflect
that this agreement is published almost
simultaneously with the German EN-
peror's lurid prediction that the United
States and Japan would be at war. /
believe he mentioned ten months as the
limit of peaceful relations. The agree
ment between the two countries has
been drawn up in the form of declara-
ton consisting of five articles, the first
of which expresses the desire of the two
! governments to encourage free and
peaceful development of their COM
merce in the Pacific Ocean; the second
mutually disclaims any aggressive de-
signs and enunciates the policy OF
each government both as directed to
unfolding existing relations and the
defense of the principle of equal oppor-
tunity for commerce and industry in
China. The third article states the
firm resolution Of each government to
| respect the territorial possessions of the
other in the Pacific. In the fourth ar
| ticle the two countries enunciate their
determination to support by all peace
full means the independence and inte-
gritty of China and the idea of open,
! commercial and industrial opportunity
| fou oil + bo {thf,,oco
The fifth article pledges the two gov
ernments in case of war s'the occurrence
of any event threatening the status quo
or the principle of equal opportunity
to communicate with each other fol
the purpose of arriving at mutual I'M
Outstanding with regard to the meas
ures they may consider it advisable tc
take. There can be no doubt but thai
the understanding embodied in this
agreement will have an effect upon the
appropriations IN the coming Congress
Secretary Cortelyou has almost com
pleted his report oftle Treasury Depart
ment and it will show large deficit
and the Chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means in the House as vel
as Speaker Cannon have announced
their determination to cut down ex
penses to the lowest possible figure, anC
if they can reduce the naval and shiT
building expenses ten or twelve mil
lions, in view of our peaceful relations
with Japan and all the rest of the
world, it will be an item of no small
consideration. The President on the
other hand will doubtless continue to
urge the allowance of money for foul
battleships Of the first class and will
point to the fact that the cruise of the
| formidable American feet has been ef-
fectiye in producing these friendly and
peaceful relations, and that, merely as
an economic measure, it is better to ex.
pend thirty or forty millions more fol
| the maintenance of a formidable navy
than to spend ten times that much in
war and a larger sum in the pensions
that will follow.
Many members of Congress and Sen
ators are now in the city. An interest
ing short session is anticipated. The
tariff is not an exciting or a sensational
issue but the intensity of feeling with
reference to it in certain quarters is ap-
parent. When the preachers in Mis-
souri, are praying for the maintenance
of high duty on zinc ore and when a
| breach in the Republican party OF
rather one between the executive and
legislative branches OF the nation over
the tariff issue is in the air, the posi-
bilities of this chronic bone of conten-
ton are quite apparent. The tariff is
discussed everywhere and will be dis
cussed though perhaps noto the floors
Fof Congress during the short session.
When the special session is called it
| will divide the House of Representa-