The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-13
Text Of the Convention Is
Finally Made Public
MANCHUR|A IS PROTECTED
Countries That Integrity of Man.
churia VIII He Preserved In
All Transactions

Washington, July 12--The text of the
long heralded Manchurian convention be-
tween Japan and Russia signed July
at st. Petersburg, was made public to-
night. 1t is one of the shortest import
ant treaties of modern times. being just
237 words in length 1t follows The i'm
perial government of Japan and the I'M
perial government of Russia sincerely
attached to the principles established by
the convention concluded between them
on the Both 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 COM
plete the said arrangement by the fol-
lowing provisions:
'Article with the object of facii-
tating communication and developing the
commerce of nations, the two high con-
tracting parties mutually engage to lend
each other their friendly cooperation
with a view to the amelioration of their
respective railway lines in Manchuria
and the improvement of the connecting
service of the said railways, and to ab-
stain from all competition pre1udicial to
the realization of this object.
ARTICLE Each of the high contracting
parties engages to maintain and respect
the status quo ir Manchuria resulting
from the treaties. conventions and other
arrangements concluded Up to this date
between Japan and Russia, or between
either of these two powers and China.
Copies of the aforesaid arrangements
| Ao, of,,
Russia.
Article 3-In case any event rises of
a nature to menace the statur quo above
mentioned the two high contracting par
| ties shall in each case enter in communi-
cation with each other in order to ar
rive at understandings as to the meas
ures they may judge 1t necessary to
take for the maintenance of said status
quo."
The convention has been presented to
the state department by both the Russian
and Japanese ambassadors. The notes
of transmission were almost as interest
ing as the agreement itself
Baron Rosen, the Russian Ambassador
stated In his note that ne was instructed
In making the communication to express
fully to the secretary of state the hope
that he would find in the convention
which was inscribed as reaffrming peace
full relation with Japan and as being d.
rected neither against the interests of
China nor those of any other power. a
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 corre-
spending representations.
Just before the state. department closed
today dispatch was received from the
Germany embassy at Toxic, setting forth
more fully the attitude of Japan in draft
Ing the new treaty and seemingly dis
posing OF the rumor that a secret treaty
had been signed by the two countries
1t was stated that the negotiations which
resulted In the signing of the St. Pc
tersburg convention began last Novem-
ber.
Heralded as a direct and a power
full blow at the United States, Il is
understood, although requests for a
statement on the treaty by the state de-
partment were refused. the officials of
this government regarded the convention
itself as little more than harmless ap-
pendage to the convention between Rus
sia and Japan In 1907 That treaty con-
tained an express recognition of the prin-
ciple of equal opportunity in the far east
ana a promise Dy the Two governments
not to interfere Herewith. It also rec
ognixed the independence and territorial
integrity of China.
Reiteration of loyalty to these princi-
pies. t.ken in connection with the gen.
eral principle that two powers cannot
bargain away rights Of a third nation
such as the United States claimed Euro
pean powers were about to do in regard
to the Chinese railroad loans, makes the
new treaty unobJectionable. 1t was un-
derstood here to either the United States,
Great Britain or Germany. 1t Is known
here that the British government agrees
with the government of the United States
that the open door policy Is subsequently
included In the new treaty, and that pol
Icy must be safeguarded in present and
in future arrangements. No doubt Is felt
here that the German government, which
has co-operated with the United States
recently in the far east, takes the same
view.