1918

AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE
UNITED STATES
Notes Exchanged at Washington, 30th November, 1908
Letter from Sir Kogoro Takahira, Japanese Minister at Washington, to the II n.
Elihu Root, American Secretary of State
Sir,—The exchange of views between us which has taken place at the several
interviews which I have recently had the honour of holding with you has shown that
Japan and the United States, holding important outlying insular possessions in the*
region of the Pacific Ocean, the Governments of the two countries are animated by a
common aim, policy and intention in the region.
Believing that a frank avowal of that aim, policy and intention 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, the Imperial Government have-
authorised me to present to you an outline of their understanding of that common
aim, policy and intention.
1. It is the wish of the two Governments to encourage the free and peaceful
development of their commerce on the Pacific Ocean.
2. The policy of both Governments, uninfluenced by any aggressive tendencies,,
is directed to the maintenance of the existing status quo in the region above mention¬
ed, and to the defence of the principle of equal opportunity for commerce and
industry in China.
3. They are accordingly firmly resolved reciprocally to respect the territorial
possessions belonging to each other in the said region.
4. They are also determined to preserve the common interests of all Powers in
China by supporting, by all pacific means at their disposal, the independence and
integrity of China, and the principle of equal opportunity for commerce and industry
of all nations in that empire.
5. Should any event occhr threatening the status quo as above described, or the
principle of equal opportunity as above defined, it remains for the two Governments
to communicate with each other in order to arrive at an understanding as to- what
measures they may consider it usefid to take.
If the foregoing outline accords with the view of the Government of the United
States, I shall be gratified to receive your confirmation.
From Hon. Elihu Root, American Secretary of State, to Sir Kogoro
Takahira, Japanese Minister at Washington
Your Excellency,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Note-
of to-day setting forth the result of the exchange of views between us in our recent
interviews defining the understanding of the two Governments in regard to their
policy in the region of the Pacific Ocean.
It is a pleasure to inform you that this expression of mutual understanding is>
welcome to the Government of the United States as appropriate to the happy relations
of the two countries, and as the occasion for a concise mutual affirmation of that ac¬
cordant policy respecting the Ear East which the two Governments have so frequently
declared in the past.
I am happy to be able to confirm to your Excellency, on behalf of the United
States, the declaration of the two Governments embodied in the following words.
[Then follow the five points mentioned in Japan’s Note, which are repeated in
exactly the same wording.]