Since our last issue an important Agreement has been con-
cluded between Japan and the United States. The Agree- ment, which is drawn up in the form of a declaration, expresses the mutual determination of the two Governments, "in the common interest of all the Powers," to support "by all peaceful means at their disposal" the independence and integrity of China and the principle of the "open door" in that Empire. Both Governments mutually disclaim aggressive designs, and agree to respect each other's territorial possessions in the Pacific. They further pledge themselves, in case of the occurrence of any event threatening the status quo or the principle of equal commercial opportunity, to communicate with each other for the purpose of arriving at a mutual under- standing with regard to the measures they may consider it useful to take. The Agreement, which was signed on Monday afternoon by Mr. Root and Baron Takahira, has been received with general satisfaction by the Press in America, while its limited form—that of an interchange of Notes—safeguards it from the charge of infringing the Treaty-making privileges of the Senate.
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