Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-09
Clear Understanding Is Re-
suit of Visit BY Mikado's
Mission, Secretary Lam
sing Announces; "Open
Door" Stays Open.
PERIL LOSES
POWER TO

dnQ the united states naVe reached a
complete agreement in relation to
China and at the same time have ar.
rived at a clear understanding as to
military, naval and economic co-opera-
ton in the war against Germany.
This momentous development was
announced today by Secretary Lansing
who made public notes exchanged by
him and Viscount Ishii, the special
Japanese ambassador, formally record
ing an agreement recognizing that ia
pan has a special interest in China but
pledging the independence and terri
torial integrity of that great eastern re-
public and reaffirming the doctrine of
the open door, for commerce and in
dustry.
UNDERSTANDING is COMPLETE.
In a statement accompanying the
note, Mr.. Lansing said Viscount Ishii
and the members of his mission, now
on their way home, had performed a
service of the highest value to the
United States as well as to Japan, by
clearing away misunderstanding
which, if unchecked, promised to de-
velop a serious situation in the far
east. He spoke of an attitude of con-
straint and doubt fostered by a cam
paign of falsehood adroitly and secret
1y carried on by the Germans and said
that through the frankness and cordial
ity of the Japanese commissioners, the
propaganda of years. had been undone
in a few days.
NOTES ARE EXCHANGED.
Following is the state departments
announcement:
ION Friday, November 2. 1917./the
secretary of state and Viscount Ishii.
the special Japanese ambassador. ex-
changed at the department of state
the following notes dealing with the
policy Of the United States and Japan
in regard to China:
Department of State, Washington.
d. c., November 2, 1917
"'E3cellency:-
81 have the honor to communicate
herein-my understanding of the agree
ment reached by us in our recent con-
versations touching the questions of
lating to the republic of China.
In order to silence mischievous re-
ports that have from time to time been
public announcement once more of the
cCSilCo dDuo lllCll'OIlS SldlSu w OuI
two governments with regard to China
is advisable.
JAPAN's INTERESTS RECOGNIZED
1.-THE governments Of the Unitea
states and Japan recognize that terri
torial %propinquity creates special rela-
tions between countries, and, conse-
Guently, the government of the United
States recognizes that Japan has
special interests in China, particularly
In the part to which her possessions
are contiguous.
1.-The territorial sovereignty of China
nevertheless remains unimpaired and
the government of the United States
las every confidence in the repeated
assurances of the imperial japanese
government that while geographical
position gives Japan such special in
forests they have no desire to discrim-
mate against the trade of other ma
tions or to disregard the commercial
rights heretofore granted by China in
treaties with other powers.
soPEN DOOR" STAYS OPEN
The governments of the United
States and Japan deny that they have
any purpose to infringe in any way
the Independence of territorial integ-
rity Of China and they declare further.
more, that they always adhere to the
principle of the so-called open door,"
or equal opportunity for m
end industry in China.
Moreover, they mutually declare
that they are opposed to the acquisi-
tion by any government of any special
rights or privileges that would affect
the independence or territorial integ-
rfty of China or that would deny to
the subjects or citizens of any country
the full enjoyment of equal oppor.
tunity in the commerce and industry
q China
81 shall be glad to have your ex.
oellency confirm this understanding of
the agreement reached by US.
(Signed) Robert Lansing"
JAPANESE REPLY.
washington, d. c., Nov. Q, 1917.
"'Sir:-T have the honor to acknowI-
edge the receipt of your note of today.
communicating to me our understand
ing of the agreement reached by us in
U recent conversations touching the
questions of mutual interest to our gov
ernmentS relating to the republic of
China.
81 am happy to be able to confirm
to you, under authorization of my gov
eminent, the understanding in question
set forth in the following terms:
Here the special ambassador re-
peats the language of the agreement
as given in Secretary Lansing's note.l
(Signed) tx, Ishii.
SETS Suspicious AT REST.
In his statement accompanying the
announcement Secretary Lansing said:
'Viscount lshii and the. other Jap
anese commissioners who are now on
their way back to their country. have
performed a service to the United
States as well as TO Japan which & OF
the highest value.
"Unquestipnably there had been
growing up between the peoples of the
two countries a feeling of suspicion as
to the motives inducing the activities
Of the other in the far east. a feeling
Hhich, if unchecked, promised to de-