New-York tribune., 1908-11-29
THE JAPANESE AGREEMENT.

The agreement between America and Japan
seems 10 be in spirit consistent with the already
esta blished policy of both countries in respect
to China the Pacific Ocean and ali other mat
ters involved It is now eighty-fve years since
this country effectively challenged Russia's pre-
tensions of making the Northern Pacific
closed sea against all but her own commerce,
and esta blished for all the world and Tor all
time the freedom of those waters. Since then
America. Japan and Great Britain have become
BY far the greatest powers on the Pacific. and
IL is eminently proper that they should he i'll
accord on the subject of respecting each others
rights there and also of maintaining the en-
tire freedom of commerce of that ocean and lis
shores for all well disposed peoples. It is more
than fifty years since America opened Japan
to intercourse with the world 1t is thirteen
years since Japan, q result OF her war with
China. committed herself to the principle OF
Chinese integrity and the open door in that
empire and though i'll conceived European in
tervention at that time defeated the full exc
cution of those high designs the suggestions OF
Great Britain and- the specific diplomatic action
Of the United States have since committed all
great powers to the support of the principle
which Japan then broached. The agreement
which is now announced VIII be further con-
frmation of il.
This understanding should he in no respect
unwelcome 10 China. but rather should be
hailed by that country as calculated greatly TO
contribute 10 her welfare and to guarantee her
security From some points of view it might
seem offensive 10 a nation. TO be deroga-
ton of her dignity, for her TO be made the
subject of stipulatiohs between two other
powers But this will not be so regarded by
China. partly because she has long been accns-
toned to such measures and partly because she
has herself solicited precisely such action. Our
own diplomatic movement for the open door
and guarantee of territorial integrity was
gratefully appreciated by China, as we have no
doubt this Americo-Ja panese agreement will be
1t should indeed be especially welcome %
China at this particular time. at the beginning
of q new and untried regency and with a COM
plete transformation of the governmental sys-
tenn in progress. Now Of all times Is the time
when China needs honest and disnterested
moral support. such as she may confidently e1-
pect from the United States. Such an agree
ment as this between America and Japan
should he worth immeasurably more to China
than any alliance with this country concern
ing which there has been much visionary
vaporing.
The agreement should also have the eminenty
desirable effect of dismssing in complete dis
credit the pernicious pretensions which some
have made of Japan's deadly designs against
the peace and integrity of America and OF the
imminence of Japanese invasion OF the United
States If there are those whose minds are so
warped as TO hold that because Japan defended
herself against Russia she must mean 10 ne
wantonIy aggressive against America, or that
because Japan has created large mercantile
feet in the Pacific she therefore wants TO quar-
rel with her best customer and risk the de
struction of her commerce and her commercial
feet, 1t would probably be q waste Of time to
argue with them. Men who could believe such
things could believe anything. Those who see
in the Pacific Ocean room for the activities of
several great and friendly powers, and who
see that it is to Japans advantage as well as 10
ours that these two nations should know no
rivalry save that of honest competition in the
arts Of peace will perceive in such Joint
note as this the mere writing Of hitherto
unwritten law. and the giving of more formal
authority 10 what has all along been the
design and the desire Of the two nations.