The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-02
American and Japan Agree. ROOT AND TAKAHIRA
 ENTER INTO A PACT Independence of China Is As-
 sured. Declaration Reanirms Good Feeling Be. tween the Two Countries and is Greeted with Enthusinsnn
 in Tokio.

Washington. Dec. 1.-The notes sx- changed between the United States and Japan. declaring their, policy in the Far East" which have been the sub Ject of correspondence between Secre- tary of State Root and Ambassador Takahira for some months. was made public at the State Department to- night.
 | Accompanying the declaration are two letters. one from MT. Takahira and one from Mir. Root the former express Ing the belief that frank avowai' of the aims, policies and intention of the two countries in the Pacific would not only tend to strengthen the relations of friendship and good neighborhood between the two nations. but would materially contribute to the preserva- l tion of the general peace and the lat ter declaring that this expression of mutual understanding is welcome to the Government of the United States" Each letter. in which is included the declaration. is dated Nov. 30 the day on which the exchanges took place. The text of these letters was contained in the Associated Press dispatches from London today.
 Terms of Notes.
 The i've separate notes, in explicit. terms, are as follows:
 "First--It is the wish of the two Governments to encourage the free and peaceful development of their com merce on the Pacific ocean.
 "Second-The policy of both Gov ernments. uninfiuenced by any aggres- sive tendencies, is directed to the maintenance of the existing status quo in the region above mentioned and to the defense Of the principle of equal opportunity for commerce and indus try in China
 "Third-They are accordingly firmly resolved reeiprocally to respect the territorial possessions belonging fo each other in settled regions
 "Fourth--Th ey are also determined to preserve the common interests of all powers in China by supporting by independence and integrity of China and the principle of equal opportunity for commerce and industry of all na- tions in that Empire.
 "Fffth-Should any event occur threatening the status quo as above described, or the principle of equal opportunity as above defined 1t re- mains for the two Governments to communicate with each other in order i, to arrive at an understanding as to what measures they may consider 1t useful to take
 TukahfFu As Pleased.
 Ambassador Takahira, in a state ment issued subsequent to the making public of the notes. declared they were simply a reamrmation of what was de- clared by the two Governments years ago.
 Tt was something like a transaction between trusted friends he said. The Ambassador added: "As win be seen in their wording. the notes are simply in the form of a declaration and are not a treaty or agreement. They are simply reafirmation of what was de- clared by the two Governments years ago, or A definition of the understanding already existing. It is said, however. to be noted that the notes which are such moral standing as those of the United States and Japan will have a great influence in the carrying out of their common policy.
 Japan has entire confidence in the great moral strength of the United States Government, and the latter fully trusts in the strong, good faith of the IapaneRe Government as has been amply proved by past experience. In this respect, it is something like a between trusted friends. and 1t Is sincerely hoped that the peo- pie of each country will have the same as their own Government in and to each other there will be every thing to gain and nothing to lose, and friendly intercourse and commercial relations will be fully developed
 The substance of the declaration was furnished in advance of its signing to he various Governments interested In Chinese affairs. and cordial responses 'f sympathy and support came from hem.
 Text of the Note. . London. Dec. l.-The Associated Press today secured copy of the Igreement between the United States nA