The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-11-15
THE JAPANESE MISSION.

orseveral years there has been fear
that sometime, perhaps not far in the
future, there might be war between the
United States and Japan. How much
this fear may have been felt by the gov
ernments of either country we shall
never know. We do know, however,
that the newspapers of both countries
have voiced this fear and that it has CO.
tanned Judgment in the minds of our own
people and the people of Japan. The
reason for this has been attributed to
labor conditions, particularly in our Pa
cifc coast States, where restrictions on
Japanese immigration have been demand
ed and granted. Naturally this led to
1istrust in Japan and to uneasiness as
10 consequences both there and here.
During the first few months of the Euro
pean war and during the year preceding
its declaration, this distrust and fear
grew rapidly. Events since then and
The recent exchange of condolences be-
tween our administration and the mem
berS of the Japanese mission have made
plain the fact that German intrigue has
been active in an effort TO still further
promote i'll feeling. Newspapers have
been subsidized in both countries to aug
ment suspicion and anger. 1t was the
hope of the Germans that their propa-
ganda would at least succeed in making
It necessary for a large part of our navy
10 remain in Pacific waters to watch
Japan and to fight her if attacked. The
japanese mission which has Just left our
shores has met the President and his Off
cal family with Cancellation and friend
ship and the diplomatic atmosphere has
been cleared by the candor which has
safe to say that the relations between the
two nations is now friendly and likely to
remain so.
A solemn agreement has been signed
N regard to China which is as follows:
The governments of the United States
and Japan recognize that territorial pro-
plnQuity creates special relations between
countries, and consequently the Govern
ment of the United States recognizes
that Japan has special interests in China,
particularly in the part to which her pos
sessions are contiguous.
The territorial sovereignty of China,
nevertheless, remains unimpaired, and
the Government of the United States has
every confidence in the repeated assur-
ances of the Imperial Japanese Govern
ment 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 grant
ed by China in treaties with other Pow
erS.
The governments of the United States
and Japan deny that they have any pur-
pose to infringe in any way the indepen-
dence or territorial integrity of China and
they declare, furthermore, that they al
ways adhere to the principle of the So
called "open door" or equal opportunity
for commerce and industry in China.
Moreover, they mutually declare that
they axe opposed to the acquisition by
any Government of any special rights or
privileges that would affect the independ-
ence or territorial integrity of China or
that would deny to the subjects or citi-
zens of any country the full enjoyment
of equal opportunity in the commerce
and industry of China.
Thus has our Monroe doctrine been car
rled half way round the world Japan
mas special interests in China as has the
United States in Mexico and Central
Am erica, and the above g1eement warns
ali nations to keep hands off. The 'open
do or" is for trade, but not for trespassers
nor for annexationists Japans aims in
China are not destructive but construc-
tive. A weak China will ever be a
temptation to land grabbers and a menace
to Japan, but strong, united and pro-
gressive China will be tower of strength.
Doubtless the war situation was fully dis
cussed during the conference with Count
is hi and his colleagues but of course their
decisions have not been, nor should they
be made known. 1t is certain, however,
that Japan is with the Allies to the extent
of her ability The war had been in prog
ress but short time when Japan struck
an independent blow at Germany in Sha-
tung, large Chinese province which is
within easy striking distance of Port
Arthur, a strongly fortified Japanese base.
In this province the Germans had estab-
lished themselves with the same Interior
designs which they have manifested else
where, and Japan drove them out by
armed forces. Germany defeated in the
present war cannot retaliate, but Ger
many victorious will some day wreak
vengeance. The Huns do not forget and
Japan knows that their hatred is implac-
able This is why Japan has cleared the
Pacific and Indian oceans of raiders and
made them safe for navigation. This is
why she is patrolling the Mediterranean
with her swift cruisers and destroyers.
More than that she cannot do without
great expense and hazard The shortest