The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-06
MOmentOus Pact Has Far
Reaching Effect on War.
Oppose Territorial Acquisition
in China by Any Nation.
IS FOUNDED ON "OPEN DOOR"
Recognize Japan's Special In
terests in Orient Republic.
Blow to German Design for
Japan-American RuctiOn.
nv ROBERT J. BENDER.

washington Nov. 6.-America and
| Japan have entered a formal agree
ment re-affirming the "open door \
policy in China and recognizing ia
pans special interests in that country.
| The momentous pact, confirmed by
an exchange of notes between Secre-
tary Lansing and Viscount Ishii of the
Japanese mission, November ?, will
! go down in history as one of the great
| DEVELOPMENTS of the world war.
/ In announcing the agreement today
Secretary Lansing plainly indicated it
would entirely remove an increasing
, ly growing situation developing be-
tween the countries.
The pact recognizes Japan's special
! interests in China, avOws that Chlna
sovereignty shall not be impaired, pro-
vides that there shall be no dlscrlmi-
nation against the trade of other ma
tions, denies any intention to infringe
| on China's territorial integrity, re-
affirms the "open door, policy and
avows opposition to acquisition by any
government of special privileges
which would affect China's independ-
ence.
I Seals Nations Friendship.
! The administration regards the new
| agreement as a great and independent
step in binding Japan and America
with a bond of friendship and cooper
/ alton.
1t may be stated semi-officiaIly that
the pact is designed as blow to Ger
many's efforts to ALLEVIATE Japan from
| the United States.
| In addition to the agreement of
China, Secretary Lansing announced
that a complete understanding has
been reached between the United
ton in the war and that the question
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
Ishii for formal approval in writing
/ November 2. 1t was confirmed by
Ishii on behalf of his government the
same day. The text of Lansing's COM
n1unication follows:
-EXcellency:
81 have the honor to communicate
here in my understanding of the
agreement reached by US in our recent
conversations touching the questions
of mutual interest to our governments
relating to the republic of China.
On order to silence mischievous re-
ports it is believed by US that a pub
lie announcement once more of the
desires and intentions shared by our
two governments with regard to China
is advisable.
Recognize Japan's Interests.
THE governments of the United
States and Japan recognize that ter
ritorial propinquity creates special
relations between countries and con-
! Sequently the government of the
United States recognizes that Japan
has special interests in China. par
ticularly in the part to which her
possessions are contiguous.
The territorial sovereignty of
China nevertheless remains unimpair-
ed and the government of the United
| States has every confidence in the
repeated assurances of the imperial
, japanese government that while geo
graphical 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 pow
ers.
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, fur
thermore, that they always adhere to
the principle of the so-called open
door, or equal opportunity for com
merce and inc ustry in CHINA.
Monroe Doctrine For China.
Moreover, they mutually declare
that they are opposed to the acquisi-
ton by any government of any special
rights or privileges that would affect
the independence OF territorial in
tegrity of China or that would denv
to the subjects or citizens of any coun-
try the full enjoyment of equal op-
portunity in the commerce and in
dustry of China
u shall be glad to have your ex-
cellency confirm this understanding
of this agreement reached by US.
Accept. excellency, the renewed
assurance of my highest considera.
ton.
(Signed) ROBERT LANSING"
Suspicion Became Dangerous.
Ishii, replying at once, stated:
Sir:
I have the honor to acknovIedye
the receipt of your note of today, com