The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-15
Protest to United States New
Treaty Means No Disturb
ance of Status Quo
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR ALL In CHINA
But Assurances Say Nothing
of Recent Jap Demands On
China Taken to Threaten
That Empire Sovereignty

washington. Sept. 1.-THE State
Department has received renewed as
surances from Japan that the recent
Russo Japanese alliance does not
threaten either the independence or
the territorial integrity of China.
Similar assurances have been received
from Russia
Secretary Lansing, In making pub
lie these facts today. would not state
that the assurances were satisfactory
He declined to make any comment,
The official announcement says
The Department of State received
last evening a telegram from the
American ambassador at Toxic com
municating in part the text of the
reply of the Japanese foreign office to
the request of the American govern
ment for information touching the re-
Gently signed Russo-Japane conven-
ton. This request was transmitted
through Ambassador Guthrie on Au-
gust l6 last. An oral response was
made at that time, reatfirming adher-
ence TO the open door" policy, but
the Japanese government has now
most courteously added in note to
the ambassador. dated Septem Der 10,
the following assurance:
Emphasizes Assurances.
The imperial government desires
% assure the American government
that the new convention is IN no sense
designed TO repeal or to modify the
provisions of article two OF the con-
yention, concluded between ia pan and
Russia on July 81. 1907, nor have
the Imperial government entertained
for a moment any intention 10 depart
from the policy To which they have
avowedly committed themselves re-
specting the maintenance of the In
dependence and territorial integrity Of
China, as well as the principle OF
equal opportunity for the trade of
all nations In that country. They are
as strongly convinced as ever of the
usefulness of that policy in the inter
est OF general peace and stability in
the Far East which they have always
very near their heart.
Russia Adds Protestations
The minister for foreign affairs
Of the Imperial Russian government
in like manner assured the American
am ba ssador, in response to his in
Qury, that his government had not
withdrawn from the conventions of
1907 and 1910. but would maintain
unimpaired the provisions of those
agreements. notwithstanding the fact
that no mention OF them was made
in the convention of 1915"
The assurances from Petrograd and
Toxic made no mention OF Japans re-
cent demands upon China, which. in
the opinion of diplomats here,
threaten Chinese sovereignty in Man
churia and Inner Mongolia.
The treaty of 1907. which both the
Japanese and Russian governments
declare has not been repealed or mod
fled by the new treaty, says:
''Ine two high contracting par
ties recognize the Independence
and the territorial integrity OF the
empire of China and the principle
of equal opportunity in whatever
concerns the commerce and in
dustry of all nations in that en-
pire, and engage to sustain and
defend the maintenance OF the
status quo and respect for this
principle by all the pacific means
within their reach"
Admittedly "a Defensive Alliance.
The State Department has no con-
firmation of the charge that-th
Russo-J Japanese alliance is offensive
as we'll as defensive. 1t has been ad-
mitted by Japan that the alliance is
defensive, which would mean that
Russia is pledged TO support Japan If
any nation attempts to interfere with
Japan's operations in China under the
treaty. 1t Is believed among diplo-
mats here that the alliance Is directed
chiefly against the United States, al