once more of the desires and intentions shared by our two Governments with regard to China is advisable. The Governments of Japan and the United States recognize that territorial propinquity creates special relations between countries, and, consequently, the Government of the United States recognizes that Japan has special interests in China, particularly in the part to which her possessions are contiguous. The territorial sovereignty of China, nevertheless, remains unimpaired and the Government of the United States has every confidence in the repeated assurances of the Imperial Japanese Government 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 heretoforé granted by China in treaties with other Powers. The Governments of Japan and the United States deny that they have any purpose to infringe in any way the independence or territorial integrity of China and they declare, furthermore, that they always 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 are opposed to the acquisition by any government of any special rights or privileges that would affect the independence or territorial integrity of China or that would deny to the subjects or citizens of any country the full enjoyment of equal opportunity in the commerce and industry of China. I take this opportunity to convey to you, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. K. ISHII Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Honorable ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State. 1918. AGREEMENT EXTENDING THE DURATION OF THE ARBITRATION CONVENTION OF MAY 5, 1908. Signed at Washington August 23, 1918; ratification advised by the Senate October 10, 1918; ratified by the President October 23, 1918; ratified by Japan November 9, 1918; ratifications exchanged at Washington December 30, 1918; proclaimed February 25, 1919. (Treaty Series, No. 639; 40 Statutes at Large, 1641.) ARTICLES. I. Extends 1908 convention for five II. Ratification. years. The Government of the United States of America and the Government of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, desiring to extend for another five years the period during which the Arbitration Convention concluded between them on May 5, 1908, and extended by the Agreement concluded between the two Governments on June 28, 1922. JAPAN, 1913, shall remain in force, have authorized the undersigned, to wit: Robert Lansing, Secretary of State of the United States, and Viscount Kikujiro Ishii, His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Washington, to conclude the following AgreeARTICLE I. ment: The Convention of Arbitration of May 5, 1908,1 between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, the duration of which by Article III thereof was fixed at a period of five years from the date of the exchange of ratifications, which period, by the Agreement of June 28, 1913, between the two Governments was extended for five years from August 24, 1913, is hereby extended and continued in force for the further period of five years from August 24, 1918. ARTICLE II. The present Agreement shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and it shall become effective upon the date of the exchange of ratifications, which shall take place at Washington as soon as possible. DONE in duplicate in the English language at Washington this twenty-third day of August, one thousand nine hundred and eighteen, corresponding to the twenty-third day of the eighth month of the seventh year of Taisho. 1922. ROBERT LANSING. [SEAL.] [SEAL.] TREATY REGARDING RIGHTS OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE NATIONALS IN FORMER GERMAN ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN NORTH OF THE EQUATOR, AND IN PARTICULAR THE ISLAND OF YAP. Signed at Washington February 11, 1922; ratification advised by the Senate March 1, 1922; ratified by the President June 2, 1922; ratified by Japan June 23, 1922; ratifications exchanged at Washington July 13, 1922; proclaimed July 13, 1922. (Treaty Series, No. 664.) ARTICLES. L. Consent to Japanese administration of former German Pacific islands north of Equator. II. Benefits to United States under League of Nations mandate and ad hoc. III. Rights and privileges in Yap. V. Ratification; effect. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND JAPAN. Considering that by Article 119 of the Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, Germany renounced in favor of the Powers de 1 For text see Vol. I, p. 1040. 2724 Italy, and Japan, all her rights and titles over her oversea possessions; to wit, the United States of America, the British Empire, France, scribed in that Treaty as the Principal Allied and Associated Powers. Considering that the benefits accruing to the United States under August 25, 1921, to restore friendly relations between the two nations; by the Treaty between the United States and Germany, signed on the aforesaid Article 119 of the Treaty of Versailles were confirmed France, Italy, and Japan-have agreed to confer upon His Majesty Considering that the said four Powers-to wit, the British Empire. sailles, to atlminister the groups of the former German Islands in the Emperor of Japan a mandate, pursuant to the Treaty of Verthe Pacific Ocean lying north of the Equator, in accordance with the following provisions: "ARTICLE 1. The islands over which a Mandate is conferred upon His Majesty the Emperor of Japan (hereinafter called the Mandatory) comprise all the former German islands situated in the Pacific Ocean and lying north of the Equator. "ARTICLE 2. The Mandatory shall have full power of administration and legislation over the territory subject to the present Mandate as an integral portion of the Empire of Japan, and may apply the laws of the Empire of Japan to the territory, subject to such local modifications as circumstances may require. The Mandatory shall promote to the utmost the material and moral well-being and the social progress of the inhabitants of the territory subject to the present Mandate. "ARTICLE 3. The Mandatory shall see that the slave trade is prohibited and that no forced labour is permitted, except for essential public works and services, and then only for adequate remuneration. The Mandatory shall also see that the traffic in arms and ammunition is controlled in accordance with principles analogous to those laid down in the Convention relating to the control of the arms traffic signed on September 10th, 1919, or in any convention amending same. The supply of intoxicating spirits and beverages to the natives shall be prohibited. "ARTICLE 4. The military training of the natives, otherwise than for purposes of internal police and the local defense of the territory. shall be prohibited. Furthermore, no military or naval bases shall be established or fortifications erected in the territory. "ARTICLE 5. Subject to the provisions of any local law for the maintenance of public order and public morals, the Mandatory shall ensure in the territory freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship, and shall allow all missionaries, nationals of any State Member of the League of Nations, to enter into, travel, and reside in the territory for the purpose of prosecuting their calling. "ARTICLE 6. The Mandatory shall make to the Council of the League of Nations an annual report to the satisfaction of the Council, containing full information with regard to the territory and indicating the measures taken to carry out the obligations assumed under Articles 2, 3, 4, and 5. "ARTICLE 7. The consent of the Council of the League of Nations is required for any modification of the terms of the present mandate. The Mandatory agrees that if any dispute whatever should arise between the Mandatory and another member of the League of Na tions relating to the interpretation or the application of the provisions of the Mandate, such dispute, if it can not be settled by negotiation, shall be submitted to the Permanent Court of International Justice provided for by Article 14 of the Covenant of the League of Nations"; Considering that the United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles and did not participate in the agreement respecting the aforesaid Mandate; Desiring to reach a definite understanding with regard to the rights of the two Governments and their respective nationals in the aforesaid islands, and in particular the Island of Yap, have resolved to conclude a convention for that purpose and to that end have named as their Plenipotentiaries: The President of the United States of America: Charles Evans Hughes, Secretary of State of the United States; and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan: Baron Kijuro Shidehara, His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Washington; Who. after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed as follows: ARTICLE I Subject to the provisions of the present Convention, the United States consents to the administration by Japan, pursuant to the aforesaid Mandate, of all the former German Islands in the Pacific Ocean, lying north of the Equator. ARTICLE II The United States and its nationals shall receive all the benefits of the engagements of Japan defined in Articles 3, 4, and 5 of the aforesaid Mandate, notwithstanding the fact that the United States is not a Member of the League of Nations. It is further agreed between the High Contracting Parties as follows: (1) Japan shall insure in the islands complete freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship which are consonant with public order and morality; American missionaries of all such religions shall be free to enter the islands and to travel and reside therein, to acquire and possess property, to erect religious buildings and to open schools throughout the islands; it being understood, however, that Japan shall have the right to exercise such control as may be necessary for the maintenance of public order and good government and to take all measures required for such control. (2) Vested American property rights in the mandated islands shall be respected and in no way impaired; (3) Existing treaties between the United States and Japan shall be applicable to the mandated islands; (4) Japan will address to the United States a duplicate of the annual report on the administration of the Mandate to be made by Japan to the Council of the League of Nations; scribed in that Treaty as the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, to wit, the United States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan, all her rights and titles over her oversea possessions; Considering that the benefits accruing to the United States under the aforesaid Article 119 of the Treaty of Versailles were confirmed by the Treaty between the United States and Germany, signed on August 25, 1921, to restore friendly relations between the two nations; Considering that the said four Powers-to wit, the British Empire. France, Italy, and Japan-have agreed to confer upon His Majesty the Emperor of Japan a mandate, pursuant to the Treaty of Versailles, to atminister the groups of the former German Islands in the Pacific Ocean lying north of the Equator, in accordance with the following provisions: "ARTICLE 1. The islands over which a Mandate is conferred upon His Majesty the Emperor of Japan (hereinafter called the Mandatory) comprise all the former German islands situated in the Pacific Ocean and lying north of the Equator. "ARTICLE 2. The Mandatory shall have full power of administration and legislation over the territory subject to the present Mandate as an integral portion of the Empire of Japan, and may apply the laws of the Empire of Japan to the territory, subject to such local modifications as circumstances may require. The Mandatory shall promote to the utmost the material and moral well-being and the social progress of the inhabitants of the territory subject to the present Mandate. "ARTICLE 3. The Mandatory shall see that the slave trade is prohibited and that no forced labour is permitted, except for essential public works and services, and then only for adequate remuneration. The Mandatory shall also see that the traffic in arms and ammunition is controlled in accordance with principles analogous to those laid down in the Convention relating to the control of the arms traffic signed on September 10th, 1919, or in any convention amending same. The supply of intoxicating spirits and beverages to the natives shall be prohibited. "ARTICLE 4. The military training of the natives, otherwise than for purposes of internal police and the local defense of the territory, shall be prohibited. Furthermore, no military or naval bases shall be established or fortifications erected in the territory. "ARTICLE 5. Subject to the provisions of any local law for the maintenance of public order and public morals, the Mandatory shall ensure in the territory freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship, and shall allow all missionaries, nationals of any State Member of the League of Nations, to enter into, travel, and reside in the territory for the purpose of prosecuting their calling. "ARTICLE 6. The Mandatory shall make to the Council of the League of Nations an annual report to the satisfaction of the Council, containing full information with regard to the territory and indicating the measures taken to carry out the obligations assumed under Articles 2, 3, 4, and 5. "ARTICLE 7. The consent of the Council of the League of Nations. is required for any modification of the terms of the present mandate. The Mandatory agrees that if any dispute whatever should arise between the Mandatory and another member of the League of Na |