Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-14

Toxic. Dec. 14.-Japan can do moth
ing likely to infringe upon. the SOW
~ereignty of China and it SEEM GER
tain sthat Tsingtau, the German port
captured by the Japanese, will be re-
turned to China and that the Japanese
will he obliged to withdraw their
troops from Hankow, as a result. or
the recent agreement between the
United States and Japan under which
the United States recognizes Japan
special interests in China, declares
Baron, K. Takahashi. formerly Japan
csc minister of nance and a leading
member of the Sefyullai party. This
agreement wa signed by Viscount
Ishii and Secretary of State Lansing
ut Washington early ineNovember.
The special interests of Japan &C
knowledged in the combined state
ment include nothing more than the
rights hitherto acquired by Japan,
Baron T%akahashi adds in commenting
on the greement. Hitherto" he says,
America doubted our attitude toward
China and was always watching it, but
by virtue of this agreement n Will
give uD her careful watch. In this re-
spect the new agreement is better
thaR none"
Marquis Okuma, formerly premier,
c~haracterizes the agreement as a sig
nal success for Viscount Ishii n adds
LlltI ~ IL olLiS1<LAiS ASNo6h AoS@o
which already existed. That viewpoint
also is taken by some of the leading
such as the Herald of Asia
which asserts that the notes exchang-
ed between Secretary Lansing and Wis
count Ishii merely put on paper what
already was in practical existence"
the result of which will be h clarity
ing of the whole political atmosphere
in the far east. Hope is expressed by
the Herald that the agreement will
have. a beneficial effect upon, "a. small
but very active group of mostly
Americans, who have constituted
themselves champions of China
against the alleged Japanese agrees
sion,i and who have endangered the
good understanding between Japan
and America by disseminating distort-
ed information concerning Japanese
policy in China"
Asserting that American CONNER
cial Interests in China have been and
always will be safe guarded by Japan,
the Asahi, one of h leading Toxic
dailies declares that by the agreement
China has gained most and America
has gained more than Japan"
The Japan Times says that the sit
uation which existed prior to the
agreement might have led to serious
developments between Japan and
America which would nave benefited
only. their common enemy, Germany
The lshii-LAnsing note clears away
all chancellor. International forces OF
evil to do their work. We regard theee
notes as the most important docu-
ments ever exchanged between the
United States n Japan and as a vas,
improvement OF any international
agreement hitherto covering the fan
east.,' 49, a%
Some criticism is expressed by thu
Nichi-Nichi which declares tina the
substance Of the new note is rather
Instantaneous to Japan and tina
the United States seems to have sue.
ceeded in interfering Japan's actor
IN China. The paper points out tina
there are no understandings in thu
note about an "open door, territorial
integrity and equal opportunity il
Canada, Mexico or South America
which are close to the United State,
and says: - IN,
Japan canno put in her oar in til,
settlement Of American affairs blu
America is free to interfere with jap
ms activities in China. In short, it i
a foolish agreement, guaranteeing a,
1T does Americas influence in China
while at the same time it places still
further restrictions on Japan. Japa,
and China must always act unde tn,
supervision Of the United States Will,
the American government is free t.
do whatever it pleases in other Amer
can countceA"