Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-13
Document Made Public Regarded
as Harmless Appendage to
Former Convention
OPEN DOOR POLICY RETAINED
Two Nations Combine to Main
tain the Status Quo in the
Extreme East
Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, July 12.--The text of
the long-heralded Manchurian conven-
tion between Japan and Russia, signed
July at st. Petersburg, was made
public tonight. 1t is one of the short
est important treaties of modern times,
being Just 237 words in length. 1t fol-
lows:
"rhe imperial government of Japan
and the imperial government of Russia,
sincerely attached to the principles es-
tablished by the convention concluded
between them on the 18th of July, 1907,
and desirous to develop the effects of
that convention with view to the
consolidation of peace in the extreme
east, have agreed to complete the said
arrangement by the following provis-
ions:
ARTICLE 1. With the object OF facili
tating communication and developing
the commerce of nations, the two high
contracting parties mutually engage to
lend each other their friendly co-opera-
ton with a view to the amelioration of
their respective railway lines in Man
churia and the improvement of the con-
Meeting service OF the said railways,
and to abstain from all competition
preiudicial to the realization of this
object.
"Article Q. Each of the high con-
tractnig parties engage to maintain and
resulting from the treaties, conventions
and other arrangements concluded up
to this day between Japan and Russia,
or between either OF these two powers
and China Copies OF the aforesaid ar
rangements have been exchanged be-
tween Japan and Russia.
TO RETAIN STATUS QUO
"Article 3. In case that any event
arises OF a nature to menace the status
quo above mentioned, the two high
tracing parties engage to maintain and
enter into communication with each
other in order to arrive at an under
standing as to the measures they judge
1t necessary to take for the malnte-
nance of said status quo"
The convention had been presented
to the state department by both the
Russian and Japanese ambassadors.
The notes of transmission were almost
as interesting as the agreement itself.
Baron Rosen, the Russian ambassa-
dor, stated in his note that he was
instructed In making the communica-
ton to express to the secretary of state
the hope that he would find In the
convention, which was described as
reaffirming Russia's peaceful relation
with Japan, as being directed neither
against the interests OF China nor any
other power, q new pledge OF stability
and general peace in the far east
Ambassador Uchida of Japan, in his
communication to the secretary OF
state, said he was instructed to make
similar representations.
Just before the state department
closed today a dispatch was received
from the American embassy at Toxic
setting forth more fully the attitude
of Japan in drafting the new treaty
and seemingly disposing of the rumor
that a secret treaty had been signed
by the two countries. It was stated
that the negotiations that resulted In
the signing of the st. Petersburg con-
vention began last November.
BUGABoo DISSOLVED
Heralded as direct and powerful
blow at the United States. 1t is under
stood that officials of this government
regard the convention itself as little
more than a harmless appendage to the
convention between Russia and Japan
That treaty contained an express
recognition of the equal opportunity In
the far east, and a promise by the two
governments not to interfere there
with. 1t also recognized the inde-
pendence and territorial integrity of
China.
restoration of loyalty to these prin-
cIples. taken in connection with the
general principle that two powers can
not bargain away rights of a third
nation, such as the United States
claimed European powers were about
to do in regard to the Chinese railroad
loan, makes the new treaty unobjec-
tionable, it is understood here to either
the United States, Great Britain or
Germany. It is known that the British
government agrees with the govern
ment of the United States that the
open door policy is subsequently In the
new treaty, and that the policy must
be safeguarded in present and in future
arrangements. No doubt is felt here
that the German government, which
recently has co-operated with the
United States In the far east, takes the
Same view.