The Washington times., 1915-06-08

parties In the regions Of eastern Asia
and of India. and the defense of their
special interests In the said regions.
Steel Effective.
This exact language was preserved In
the treaty OF alliance concluded between
Japan and Great Britain on July 10. 1911.
which in some other provisions modified
somewhat the treaty Of 1906, which II
replaced. So that 4 is that agreement
tween japan and Great Britain.
In the agreement of 1902. as well as In
the treaties of 1905 and 1911. there lie a
distinct pledge By each power r,, to eom
frankly" whenever. in the opinion OF
either. any of the rights or interests re-
ferred to In the agreement are in
That agreement lie in force today. and
under II Japan is obligated to communi-
cate fully and frankly with Great
Britain regarding her pending negotia-
tions with China. The government OF
Great Britain knows. of course. whether
! or not japan has done so.
Prior to the conclusion of the first
Anglo-Japanese agreement-in 1902
United States that she adhered to the
! principle of the open door and equal
opportunity. This was one of the results
OF the diplomacy of John Hay Secre-
tary Of State at Washington in 1899 and
1900
Root-Takahira Agreement.
| Mr.. Hay then secured pledges from all
the powers interested in trade In China
that they would observe and maintain
these principles.
Later. In 1908. In the famous Root
Takahira agreement comprehended In
an exchange Of notes between Elihu
Root, then Secretary OF State, and
Baron Takahira, the Japanese ambas-
sador at Washington. this agreement
| on the part of japan was put In more
definite and binding form The agree
ment consists Of five numbered para
graphs. the second OF which says:
The policy of both governments,
dencies, is directed to the main
| tenance of the existing status quo In
the region above mentioned (the re-
eion Of the Pacific ocean) and to the
defense of the principle OF equaa op-
portunity for commerce and industry
| In China" ,r.r ,...
Paragraph I is in these words:
They 1.-THE two governmental are
| also determined to preserve the COM
mon interests Of all powers In China
by supporting, by all pacific means at
integrity Of China aud the principle
of equal opportunity for commerce
and industry Of all nations In that
empire" "
Then follows paragraph 8. as follows:
"Should any event occur threaten
ing the status quo as above described
as above defined 1t remains for the
| two governments to communicate
with each other in order to arrive At
an understanding as to what meas
| no nnnatdGr n
| take
Thus Japan is specifically bound to as
sist the United States in the preserva-
tion Of the open door and the principle
of equal opportunity for all nations in
China: to maintain the status quo OF
1905; to maintain the independence and
integrity of China. and to communicate
with the government of the United
threatens the status quo or the principle
OF equal opportunity.
Integrity Of China. ..--
Japan's engagement to maintain the
staus quo in China. however, antedates
by more than a year the Root-Takah hirs
agreement. In July of 1907 the Russian
minister Of foreign affairs and the Jap.
anese ambassador at St. Petersburg
signed an agreement of which article ;
is in the following language:
The two high contracting parties
recognize the Independence and terri
torial integrity Of the empire OF
. China and the principle of equal op-
Commerce and industry Of ali nations
In that empire and engage to sustain
and defend the maintenance Of the
status quo and respect for this prin-
eipie , by all pacific means with
In June. 1907. also, Japan made ar
|, agreement with France by which tn,
two governments pledged themselves
Ito respect the independence and integ
rity of China as well as the principle
the commerce and subjects or citizeni
OF all nations and engaged to 'suppor
each other for assuring the peace anc
security In those regions. with . view I,
the territorial rights of the two higi
contracting parties on the continent o
Asia"
Thus when the European war begsI
the sons Sose sH Of JIy sns. s's Japa,
agreement with Great Britain. tn,
: United States. Russia, and France I,
maintain the Independence. and terri
torial integrity OF China. and to pre-
and equal opportunity for the commerc,
| and induftry Of all nations In China
and also to preserve the status quo O
1907.
Neither then. nor at any other time 1,
the remainder Of 1914. was any ques
ton of Importance pending between
China and japan. Nothing occurred II
China which would give cause for an,
disturbance of the relations between he
and Japan. or perhaps it would he
little more accurate to say, which woul,
, furnish ground for aggressive action b!
Japan In China
(To be continued tomorrow.)
Copyright. 1915. by the Chicago Tribune
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