The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-14
Formal Communications to State Department Say That New Russo Japanese Treaty Does Not Revoke Former Treaties As To Chinese Program.
Documents Substantiates Early Assurances Present ed to American Ambassa- dor in Response to Inquir- ies From U. S. As to Flu ture Policies.

Washington, Sept. 14.-Both Japan and Russia have given, the United States formal assur- ances that the new Russo-Jab- anese treaty does not repeal or affect the treaties of 1907 and 1910 in which those nations pledged themselves to main- tain the integrity of China and the open door policy.
 The assurances were given to Ambassadors Guthrie at To- kio and Francis at Petrograd in response to inquiries.
 Department officials let it be known that the statements were entirely satisfactory and that, inquiries regarding the new treaty over which they had been considerably derturbed, probably would not be pressedI further.
 A statement issued today by the ssate departmotxs says:
 This fcquest was traRsmitted through Ambassador Guthrie Aug. 16. An oral response was made at that time, reaffirming adherence to the, open door policy, but the Japanese government has nowSmost courteously addressed a note to the ambassador dated Sept. 13 with the following as- surance:
 "The imperial government desires to assure the American government that Ne new convention is in no sense designed to repeal or to modify the provisions of Articles of the con- vention concluded between Japan and Russia on July 31, 1907, nor have the imperial government entertained for a moment any intention to depart from the policy to which they have avowed- ly committed themselves respecting the maintenance of the independence and territorial integrity of China as we'll as the principle of equal oppor- tunities for the trade of all nations in that country. On the contrary they are strongly convinced as ever of the usefulness of that policy in the inter- ests of general peace and stability in the Far East which they have always very near their hearts"
 The result of similar inquiries made at Petrograd regarding the effect of the new treaty is commented upon by the state department as follows:
 "The minister for foreign affairs of the imperial Russian government in like manner assured the American ambassador in response to his inquiry. that his government had not with drawn from the conventions of 1907 and 1910, but will maintain unim- paired the provisions of those agree ments notwithstanding the fact that no mention of them was made in the convention of 1916."
 The treaties of 1907 and 1910 be- tween Japan and Russia affirmed China's territorial integrity and the open door policy. Article 20 of the 1907 treaty was reaffirmed with Slightly different wording in the 1910 convention, reads:
 ''Tne two contracting parties recog- nize the independence and territorial integrity of the empire of China and the principle of equal opportunity in whatever concerns commerce and in dustry of all nations in that empire and engage to sustain and defend the maintenance of the status quo and respect for this principle by all the specific means within their reach."
 State department officials today ex- pressed complete satisfaction with the unequivocal reply made by Japan and the statement from the Russian for eicn office.. They feel these assur- ances with no doubt as to the main- tenance of the open door policy and regard for American interests in China.