The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-06
AMERICA AND
JAPAN AGREE
Open Door Policy in China is
Reaffirmed in Pact Signed
by Two Great
Nations.
MOST IMPORTANT STEP
Considered Blow at Germany's e.
forts to ALLEVIATE Japan
and the United
States.
MOST IMPORTANT STEP
l[By Robert ]. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent.1

ilby hOUeTL y. boHueI, OAICu 1855
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. 6.-America
and Japan have entered formal
agreement reaffirming the open
door, policy in China and recognizing
Japan's special interests in that coun-
try.
The momentous pact. confirmed by
an exchange of notes between Secre-
tary Lansing and Viscount Isliii OF the
Japanese mission, November 2. Will go
down in history as one of the great
Developments of the world war.
Secretary Lansing plainly indicated 1t
would entirely remove an increasingly
critical situation developing between
the two countries.
The pact recognizes Japan's special
interests in China, avows that China's
sovereignty shall not be impaired, pro
vides that there shall be no discrim.
nation against trade Of other nations.
denies any intention to infringe on
China's territorial integrity: reaffirms
t the "open door policy and avows op-
position to acquisition by any govern
ment Of special privileges which
would affect China's Independence
The United Press can state that the
administration regards the new agree
ment as great and important step
in binding japan and America with
bond Of friendship and cooperation.
It may be stated semi-offcially that
the pact IS designed as blow to
Germany's efforts to ALLEVIATE Japan
and the United States.
In addition to the agreement on
China. Secretary Lansing announced
that complete understanding has
been reached between the United
States and Japan regarding co-opera-
ton in the war and that the institu-
tion Of Joint naval operations in the
Pacific has been satisfactorily settled.
The China agreement, first reached
orally between the two governments.
was submitted by Secretary Lansing
to Ishif for formal approval in writing
November 2.
It was confirmed by Ishii on behalf
Of his government the same day. The
text of Lansing's communication fol-
lows:
"Your Excellency: I have the honor
to communicate herein my under
standing of the agreement reached by
us in our recent conversations touch
ing the questions of mutual interest to
our governments relating to the re-
public Of China.
"In order to silence mischevious re-
ports, it is believed by us that q
public announcement once more of the
desires and Intentions shared by our
two governments with regard to China
Is advisable.
"The governments Of the United
States and Japan recognize that ter
ritorial propinquity creates special
relations between countries and conse-
quently the government of the United
States recognizes that Japan has
special interests in China, particular
ly in the part to which her possessions
are continguous.
'The territorial sovereignty of
China nevertheless, remains unim-
paired and the government of the
United States has every confidence
In the repeated assurances of the. i'm
perial Japanese government that
while geographical position gives
Japan such special interests they have
no desire to discriminate against the
trade Of other nations or to disregard
the commercial rights heretofore
granted by China in treaties with
other powers.
''The government Of the United
States and Japan deny that they have
any purpose to infringe in any way
the independence or territorial integ-
rity of China and they declare, that
they always adhere to the principle
of the so-called "open door" or equal
opportunity for commerce and indus
try in China.
Moreover. they mutually declare
that they are opposed to the acquisi-
ton by any government any special
rights or privileges that would effect
the independence or territorial integ-
rity of China or that they would deny
to the subjects or citizens Of any coun-
try the full enjoyment of equal oppor-
tunity in the commerce and industry
OF China.
II should be glad to have your ex-