The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-07

the Lansins-Ishii agreement was made
about November 2. 1917 y
Lansing; Yss.
Inquiries About Agreements.
Borah: Al the time that agreement
was entered into what knowledge n any
did the State Department have with ref
erencs TO the secret agreements between
Great Britain and Japan. France and
Japan. Russia and Japan and Italy AID
Jopanf
Lansing: I should have to look the
matter up before could give you a
dtfnite answer In regard to that.
Borah: Then you likely would be abba
to state after investigating the matter
Just what information was in the State
Department at that time?
Lansing: Yes.
Borah: I presume you had full infor-
nation with reference to what was
known az the twenty-one demands at
that time. had you not7
lensing: Yes
Borah: II Il Is permissible TO 20 state.
did the discussion turn upon those
twenty-one demands7 Did IL enter into
thc discussion at all with reference to
yo"r agreement which you hssrad into
Lansing: Never.
Borah: In view of those twenty.one
demands. what construction did you
place upon the question of Jarah's spo
cial interest In Gilman
Lansing: Only tho special interest
that comes from being contiguous to
another country whose peace and pros
perity were involved
Borah: No different special interest
from that which we have in Canada?
Lansing: No.
Borah: Or in Mexicof
Lansing Exactly.
Borah: 1t was at no time Understood
by the State Department that the Lam
sins -Ishif agreement was ~ any sense
an Endorsement of the prog mime which
Japan had apparently initiated at that
time under her twenty-one demands.
Opposed to n Demands.
Lansing: Absolutely not We were
opposed to the twenty-one demands.
Borah: And I presume you coiii also
dorsement Of anything which has since
developed under the secret agreements?
Lansing: Oh. no, nothing.
Borah: II you had known Of those
secret agreements would you likoly have
entered into that agreement with Japan?
Lansing: think so.
Pbmerene addressing Mr.. Borah) {:
Senator. In order to make the record en-
tlreiy clear. you mean the secret agree
ments between Japan, Great Britain,
France and Italy7
Borah: Yes. I mentioned that just a
moment ago
Pomerene: 1 had overlooked that.
Harding: The Senator also mentioned
Russia.
Borah: Whatever may be the con-
struction of the Lansing-Ishii agreement
in Japan or China It should not from
the standpoint of the State Department
be construed In America as indorsing
anything in the nature of the programme
which Japan has under the secret agree
ments?
Lansing: You are quite correct about
that. think I can say, although I
would like to refresh my memory and
would be subject to correction later, that
ono of the very reasons why that Lam
sing-Ishii agreement was entered into
was on account of the twenty-one de-
msnds and the attitude that Japan was
taking toward China In order to secure
from japan a redeclaration of the open
door policy. which she did in that agree
ment
Borah: 1t would reem, then. that II
the secret agreements had been known
at the Stats Department at that time the
written that Lanstng-Ishii agreement In
different terms. would 1t npt7
Lansing: Well. do not know. No, I
do not see why we should.
Borah = II IN q fact that at that time
japan had secret agreement with those
other countries by which IL was under
stood and agreed that certain territorial
interests and certain rights in China
should be given to her at the close Of the
war. Now. are you not familiar with
the fact that az soon as the Lansing
1shii agreement was made II was con-
strued In japan and China. both by the
press and semi-officially. to be q tacit
endorsement of Japan's programme in
Gilman
Lansing: In regard to those secret
aGI eements7
Borah: Yes. and the twenty-one de-
mands.
Lansing: 1 know 1t was in Japan. I
never knew that II was In China.
Borah: Did not China issue a protest
or something in the nature of n protest
against the Lansing Ishii agreement, and
was not that brought to the attention of
the State Department?
Secretary Haxy I'm Answers.
Mr.. Lansing was very hazy in his an
swers on these points. He continually
told the committee he would have 10 re-
fresh his memory He said he took no
part In the discussion by which the
Shantuns AFFAIR was finally settled He
said he had fled no statement In regard
to 1t, but that Gen. Bliss has writtef
letter to tho President
Borah: Who signed the letter?
Lansing: Gen Bliss.
Borah: Did the letter purport to be
written on the part OF any one other
than himself
Lansing; Yes on the part of Mr.. White
and myself.
Borah: Can you recall in a general
way the contents of the letter?
Lansing: should not want to as II
was a letter between Gen Bliss and
the President.
Borah: Ia there any copy OF It In the
State Department.
Lansing: There may be. am not
sure.
Borah !: Is II available for the COM
mittee?
Lansing: No. not from me. II L. a
private communication from Gen. Bliss
to the President.
Borah: Was It In the nature of a pro-
test against what 10 known as the set
Element OF the shantung affair?
Lansing: No.
Borah What was the nature OF it
them
Lansing: The President had conferred
with the commissioners In my Office In
connection with the japanese situation
and after we had expressed our general
view in regard to the matter the Presi-
dent wanted to know II we would COM
municate them In writing Gen Bliss
prepared letter and showed It to Mr..