The sun., 1908-11-29
An Agree e ment With Japan?

The report cabled some days ago
from Toxic now seems to be confirmed
IN Washington, although not yet Off
Ioially, that an agreement of capital i'm
portance concerning the inviolability
Of China and of the respective posses
6lpns OF the signatories or in word
themaintenanCe of the status quo in the
Pacific, has been reached between the
United States and Japan. Such an
agreement, crowning a series of con-
Ventions all tending TO establish peace
In the Far East and reassuring US as to
the necessity of maintaining a fleet of
battleships in Far Eastern waters,
would constitute a great feat of states
1,anship and refect-h high credit on the
record Of Secretary RooT in the State
department.
according to the report from Wash
ifgton the agreement takes the form
0f a declaration in five articles which
eeyerally express, first the wish of the
two governments to encourage the free
and peaceful development of their COM
ynerce in the Pacific; secondly, a COM
mon disclaimer of aggressive designs;
thirdly, firm resolution on the part
Of each signatory to respect the terri
tQrial possessions of the other in the
Pacific, and fourthly, joint determi-
nation to support "by all peaceful means
1T their disposal the independence and
Integrity of China and the principle
Of equal commercial and industrial
opportunity therein. Particular notice
should be paid TO the fifth article, which
reciprocally. pledges the two govern
fnents in the event of the territorial
status quo or principle of equal oppor-
unity being threatened, to commune
cate with each other for the purpose
Of arriving at an understanding with
regard 70 the measures they may deem
it useful coincidently to take.
On the significance of the declared in
tention that the possessions of each sig
iiatory in the Pacific shall be respected
BY the other it should be superfiuous
ito dwell. Great Britain, France and
: Russia have successfully entered into
coyenapts with Japan whereby the
parties have reciprocally guaranteed
their respective territories in the Far
East. These arrangements, as we have
eften pointed out, left the United States
and Germany in a peculiar situation.
IL either of the two last named coun-
tries should become involved in war
with Japan and should happen to be
Victorious at sea it would be precluded
from prosecuting the war by the occu-
patton of japanese territory, as for in
stance the island Of Formosa, because
Great Britain, France and Russia would
be bound by their compacts to inter-
pose. This state of things was obyi-
osisly one from which Japan had much
/ TO gain and not much to lose in q con-
test with the United States. Assuming
that the alleged new agreement Of our
Government with Japan exists and Is
reported correctly, we have the salts
faction of knowing that the state of
things Whereof we have had just reason
: TO complain exists no longer.
At the first glance it may be thought
{ that by the fifth article of the declara-
ton In which we are alleged to have
Joined we have departed from the ma
tion's traditional policy against entan-
Cling alliances with foreign Powers.
Upon close inspection, however, it ap-
pears that no alliance in any proper
sense of the word, but simply concurrent
and harmonious action, is contaminated |
such as we undertook in connection |
with other civilized Powers for the re-
lief of the besieged legations in Pekin.
The contingency which this article has
In view is remote and improbable. A /
precaution is taken against the scarcely
{ conceivable case in which without
regard to recent conventions Russia
alone, or Russia and France coupled. or
(once more, as in 1885 Russia, France
and Germany together, should attempt
TO dismember the Middle Kingdom
then the United States and Japan. which
with their navies could dominate the
Pacific would confer about the course
which Vt m,g1r be deemed expedient
simultaneously to follow.
II Secretary ROOT has concluded the
rtgnt sort OF agreement with Japan he
will be able TO leave the State Depart
ment with the comforting conviction
that in his time there will he peace in
the Pacific.
e t-----
Mr.. Newberry and the Navy,