Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1809. AMERICA AND JAPAN. THE NEW AGREEMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 28 January 1909, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1809. AMERICA AND JAPAN. THE NEW AGREEMENT.

THE full text of the new agreement between the United Slates and Japan is now availablo, a cable message having been received by the Japanese ConsulGeneral at Sydney conveying the tie tails. The Japanese Ambns:-a-lnr ••'■ lYVashington wrote to the American Secretary oi State when naming the final terms, -saying that the numerous interviews between repiesent.itiv<s tfl the two nations had shown that as | both held important outlying insular possessions in the Pacific Ocean, both were animated by a common Mm, policy and intention in that region. The Ambassador added that, "believing that a frank avowal thereof would not only tend to strengthen the relations of friendship and good neighbourhood which have immemorially existed between Japan and the United States, but would materially contribute to the preservation of the general peace, tho Imperial Government have authorised me to present to you an outline of their understanding of that common aim, policy and intention." The first cladse of the agreement avows that it is the wish of the two Governments to encourage the free and peaceful development of their com-) merce in the Pacific Ocean. It is then declared that tho policy of both Governments, uninfluenced by any aggressiv« tendencies, is directed to the maintenance of the principle of equal opportunity for. commerce and industry in China. The two Governments, accordingly, are firmly resolved reciprocally to respect the territorial possessions belonging to each other in the region mentioned. . The two Governments are also determined to preserve the common interests of all powers in China by supporting, by all pacific means at their disposal, the independence ahd integjity of Chins, and the pririiplo of equal opportunity for commerce and indastry of all nations in that. Empire. Clause sof the agreement says that should any event threaten the status quo as already described, or th<) principle of equal opportunity as denned, it remains for the two Governments to communicate with earn other in order to arrive at an understanding as to the measures they may consider it useful to take. • • * • . • In accepting the notification from the Japanese Ambassador conveying the terms of the proposed agreement, the American Secretary of State said it was a pleasure to inform him that the expression of mutual understanding was (welcome to the Government of the United Slates as appropriate to the happy relations of the two countries, and as the occasion for a concise mutual affirmation of that accordant policy respecting the Far East which tho two Governments had so frequently declared in the past. The American Secretary of State concluded by sayinir that he was happy to be able to confirm on behalf of the United Sates the declaration of the two Governments, embodied :n the terms of tho agreement as forwarded by the Japanese Ambassador. In viow of the conclusion of the agreement it must hive been both irritating and embarrassing to the Federal authorities to be confronted almost immediately afterwards by th'e anti-Japanese legislation £0 mischievously introduced in the Californian Legislature. It is in California that such complications as have ex U ted betweeen Japan and America have been largely caused, and it is thence that tho "cloud no bigger than a man's hand" may grow ind spread into the storm of wcr. Hcwev.-r for the present, with the oromise of the majority of the Californian Legislature to conform with '.he needs ot" Federal intere.'ts, the danger of an American and Japanese outbreak has been averted, and the lesson and cost of the cruise of the American Fleet, have not yet been thrown away.