New Britain herald., 1914-08-24
OF J. s.
 APPROVED BY JAPAN
UnC|c Sam Asked to Take Care Of kIppon'S interests in Germany.

here, Sunday formally notified the
 United States that Japan had de- clared war on Germany. The Amer asked to care for Japans interests in Germany.
 Assurances recently given by the British government to the United States that Japan's activity would be confined to the China seas and east ern Asia, were repeated by Viscount Chinda.
 Approved By Japan.
 The position of the United States. as set forth in Secretary Bryans note of three days ago. has met with the approval of Japan.
 In that communication the United States noted with satisfaction" that Japan pormised to maintain the in- tegrity of China and eventually re- store Kiauchau to China, that Japan sought no additional territory and had pledged herself in pursuance of the Anglo-Japanese alliance to the main tenance of the principles of the "Open door" in China and equal opportunity for the commercial interests of all powers
 Not Unexpected.
 r. Japan's declaration of war was not unexpected by administration officials. Germany's failure to reply to the Jap anese ultimatum also was not sur prising, intimations that such a course would be pursued having been given by the German charge d'affaires, Han- iel Won Haimhausen The latter was at the state department today shortly after Ambassador Chinda left, and learned informally from Counsellor Lansing that a declaration of war had been deposited here. MT. Won Hahn. hausen made no comment. It is gen. orally understood, however, that Ger
 many refrained from making any re ply first, because of the aggressive na- ture of the ultimatum; and second, because Germany preferred that Jap- an take the initiative, circumstance which often has much weight in the final reckoning in the peace confer ences at the close of the war.
 When Ambassador Chinda called at the state department Secretary Bry- an had gone to the country for a days rest. Counsellor Lansing re- ceived the imperial rescript setting forth Japan's reasons for declaring war, and talked briefly with the ambassador, completing arrange ments for the care of Japan's inter- ests in Germany. The American gov ernment did not undertake to com
 municate the rescript to Germany, a CODY having been sent by other chan nels. Sole Interest of U. S. The sole interest of the United States in the far eastern situation is that of a neutral observer. Aside from informal verbal exchanges be- tween Viscount Chinda and Secretary Bryan in Washington and between American Ambassador Guthrie and the foreign: office in Tokio, there is nothing of record so far to commit the Japanese to the limited field of hos tilities laid down in the British note of last week.
 The impression prevails here among diplomats, however, that Viscount Chinda, taken in connection with the statement of Count Okumra, the Jap- anese premier, is quite sufficient to bind the Japanese government. to strict performance of it's obligations in regard to the return to Kiauchau to China and to the British the limita- 1 tion of the field of hostilities. Ambas- sador Chinda said nothing in today's conference regarding the status of the | railroads in Shantung province di- rectly or indirectly controlled by the Germans. At the Japanese embassy 1 1t was said that the Japanese army probably would content itself with the seizure of the railroad running in- land to Tsi-Nan, about 200 miles in length, because this was German in every respect It was not expected that any attempt would be made :o take possession of the system of l railways lying between Tienrsn and Nankin, because although these were financed by Germans they were nominally Chinese railroads Of
 ficials here do not believe the Ger
 mans will attempt to turn these roads over to Americans or Chinese, as such a transaction would scarcely be recog nized after a declaration of war. May Renounce Allegiance. Japan's declaration of war was the chief development of the day here, l though despatches indicating the
 preparation in Italy for mobiliza- tion caused some discussion. Many officials here believe tha. italy IS ] preparing to enter the conflict on the side of Great Britain, renouncing her allegiance with Germany and Austria. This view, however, is gae tered only from meagre despatches which indi- cate a strong pressure on Italy to maintain her neutrality. !, The return of Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the British ambassador, and Jules Jusserand, the French ambassador, ] was taken to indicate that tho em. bassies and legations here which had been deserted for the summer would be re-opened soon.