Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-06
LANSING AND ISHII
NOTES ON THEME.
OF FUTURE POLICY

Washington. Nov. Following is
the state departments announcement
of correspondence exchanged between
Secretary Lansing and Count Ishii,
head of the japanese mission. deal
ing with the open door in China.
con Friday. Nov ?, 1917, the secre-
tary 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;
Lansing to Eshii.
Department Of State, Washington,
NOV. 2, 1917.
'Excellency: I have the honor TO
communicate herein my understand
ing Of the agreement reached by US
! in our recent conversations touching
the questions of mutual interest to
our governments relating to the re-
public of China.
In order to silence mischievous
reports that have from time to time
been circulated, it is believed by us
that a public announcement once more
Of the desires and intentions shared
! by our two governments with regard
to China is advisable.
1 1.-The governments OF the United
/ States and Japan recognize that terri
! torial propinquity creates special re-
/ lations between countries, and, con-
sequently, the government of the
} United States recognizes that Japan
/ has special interests in China. partic
ularly in the past, to which her pos
/ sessions are contiguous.
Sovereignty Unimpaired.
THE territorial sovereignty OF
+ China. nevertheless remains unim-
paired and the government Of the
I United States has every confidence in
the repeated assurances of the impe-
rial Japanese government that while
geographical position gives Japan
such special interests they have nc
desire to discriminate against the
trade OF other nations or to disregard
the commercial rights heretofore
granted by China in treaties with 9th
er powers.
1.-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, fur
thermore, that they always adhere t.
the principle OF the so-called open
door" or equal opportunity for com
merce and industry in China
Against Special Rights.
Moreover they mutually declare
that they are opposed to the acquisi
ton by any government Of any spe
cial rights or privileges that would af
feet the independence or territorial in
tegrity of China or that would deny
to the subjects or citizens of any
country the full enjoyment of equa
Opportunity in the commerce and in
dustry Of China.
- shall be glad to have your ex
cellency confirm this understanding o
; the agreement reached by us.
/, tSigned) ROBERT LANSING.
Ishii Note TO Lansing.
Washington, Nov. ,, 1917.
"sSir: / have the honor 10 &C
knowledge the receipt of your note o
, TODAY, communicating to me your un
. derstanding OF the agreement reaches
by US in our recent conversation
F., touching the questions of mutual in
: terest to our governments relating t.
the republic Of China.
81 am happy to be able to confirm
TO you, under authorization of m
: government, the understanding il
question set forth in the following
terms:
2 Here the special ambassador re
r peats the language of the agreemen
as given in Secretary Lansing's motel
| fSignedl X. lSHII.'"