Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1918
File No. 793.94/704
The Minister in China ( Reinsch ) to the Secretary of State
Sir: In continuation of my despatches Nos. 2062 and 2063 of May 23,1 I now have the honor to forward for your information the official text of the notes exchanged in Tokyo on March 25, 1918, between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Minister, [Page 223] relating to military cooperation. The text transmitted is as officially given out by the Foreign Office in Peking.2 …
I have [etc.]
Exchange of Notes Between the Chinese Minister in Japan (Chang Tsunghsiang) and the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Motono), March 25, 1918
- 1.
- The Government of China and the Government of Japan, seeing that the actual force of the enemy has been daily extended into the Russian territory and consequently the general peace and tranquillity in the extreme Orient is in danger of being threatened, have to consider in common as early as possible the measures which should be taken to cope with the situation and to fulfil the duties of participation in the present war by the two countries.
- 2.
- The means and conditions of cooperation of the army and the navy of China and Japan compatible with this common military defence against the enemy for the realization of what may be decided upon by mutual agreement between both Governments in accordance with the preceding article, will be arranged by the military and naval authorities of both countries, who will from time to time consult each other carefully and freely upon all questions of mutual interest, and upon the approval of the Governments of the two countries will be carried out into action according to the demands of the circumstances.
Viscount Motono to Minister Chang Tsung-hsiang, March 25, 1918
Monsieur le Ministre: With reference to the notes exchanged on March 25 instant between the Governments of China and of Japan on the subject of their joint defensive movements against the enemy, I have the honour to propose on behalf of my Government that the period within which the said notes are to remain in force will be determined by competent military and naval authorities of the two powers. At the same time, the Imperial Government are happy to declare that the Japanese troops staying within the Chinese territory for the purpose of such defensive movements against the enemy will be completely withdrawn from such territory upon the termination of the war.
I avail [etc.]
Minister Chang Tsung-hsiang to Viscount Motono, March 25, 1918
Monsieur le Ministre: With reference to the notes exchanged on March 25 instant between the Governments of Japan and of China on the subject of their joint defensive movements against the enemy, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s communication under to-day’s date, proposing on behalf of your Government that the period within which the said notes are to remain in force will be determined by the competent military and naval authorities of the two powers. I am happy to state in reply that the foregoing proposal is accepted by my Government. I am further gratified to take note of the declaration embodied in your communication under acknowledgment, that the Japanese troops staying within the Chinese territory for the purpose of the defensive movements against the enemy will be completely withdrawn from such territory upon the termination of the war.
In communicating the above to your excellency under instructions of my Government, I avail [etc.]
Military Agreement Between China and Japan
- 1.
- China and Japan, realizing the fact that the gradual extension of enemy influence towards the East may jeopardize the peace of the two countries, consider it their mutual duty, as participants in the war, to take concerted action against the common enemy.
- 2.
- As regards military cooperation each country shall pay due respect to the prestige and interests of the other country, and both parties shall be considered to be on an equal footing.
- 3.
- When the time comes to take action in accordance with this agreement the two countries shall instruct their military and civil officials and people to adopt a friendly attitude towards those of the other country in the military areas. The Chinese officials shall do their best to aid the Japanese troops in the said areas so that no obstacles shall arise to impede their movements, and the Japanese troops shall respect the sovereignty of China, and shall not be allowed to act in a manner contrary to the local customs and cause inconvenience to the people.
- 4.
- The Japanese troops in Chinese territory shall be withdrawn as soon as military operations cease.
- 5.
- Whenever troops have to be dispatched outside Chinese territory, the two countries shall dispatch them jointly whenever necessary.
- 6.
- The military areas and other matters relating to the military operations shall be decided by the military authorities of the two countries whenever necessary, in accordance with the military strength of each country.
- 7.
- In order to facilitate matters, in the course of the military
cooperation the military authorities of the two countries shall
observe the arrangements:
- (a)
- In regard to the making of all arrangements for carrying on military operations, both countries shall appoint deputies who shall arrange all matters regarding cooperation.
- (b)
- In order to secure rapid transportation by land or water and rapid communication, both sides shall cooperate to this end.
- (c)
- When occasion arises the two commanders in chief shall arrange all necessary military constructions such as military railways, telegraph and telephone lines. These shall all be removed at the conclusion of the military operations.
- (d)
- Regarding the necessary military supplies and materials required for taking concerted action against the enemy the two countries shall supply each other to such an extent as not to affect the supplying of ordinary demands.
- (e)
- The two countries shall assist each other in carrying out sanitary measures for the troops in the military areas.
- (f)
- With regard to the question of military experts for direct military operations, should the necessity arise for mutual assistance, if one country requests the assistance of such experts the other shall supply it.
- (g)
- In the areas in which military operations are taking place intelligence agencies may be established, and the two countries shall exchange important military maps and military reports. The intelligence agencies of the two countries shall exchange information and render mutual assistance.
- (h)
- All secret passwords shall be agreed upon mutually.
- The questions as to which of the above arrangements shall be considered first, and which shall be first entered upon shall be mutually arranged in a separate agreement, before the actual commencement of hostilities.
- 8.
- When military transportation necessitates the use of the Chinese Eastern Railway, the provisions in the original treaty regarding the management and protection of the said railway shall be respected. The methods of transportation shall be decided upon at the time.
- 9.
- Regarding the enforcement of the details in this agreement, it shall be decided upon by delegates appointed by the military authorities of the two countries.
- 10.
- This agreement and the supplementary articles therein shall not be published by the two Governments, but shall be considered as military secrets.
- 11.
- This agreement shall be signed and sealed by the military delegates of the two countries and recognized by the two Governments before it becomes operative. The time for commencing actual military operations shall be decided by the highest military organs of the two countries. This agreement and all the details arising from this agreement shall become null and void as soon as the military operations of China and Japan against the enemy countries of Germany and Austria come to an end.
- 12.
- Two copies of this agreement shall be written in the Chinese language, and two corresponding copies in the Japanese language, and each party shall keep one copy of the agreement in each language.
Naval Agreement Between China and Japan, Signed May 19, 1918
- 1.
- (Same as Article 1 of military agreement.)
- 2.
- (Same as Article 2 of military agreement.)
- 3.
- When the time comes to take action in accordance with this agreement the two countries shall instruct their naval officers and all officials and people to adopt a friendly attitude toward those of the other country in the military areas, and mutually assist each other with a view to overcoming the enemy.
- 4.
- A separate agreement shall be drawn up regarding the field of activity and the duties of the participants when the time comes for taking action against the enemy.
- 5.
- When the time comes for action the naval authorities of China
and Japan shall cooperate with a view to taking efficient
measures as follows:
- (a)
- (Same as 7a of the military agreement.)
- (b)
- (Same as 7b of the military agreement.)
- (c)
- In all matters relating to shipbuilding and repairs and naval equipment and supplies, both countries shall mutually assist each according to its power. This also applies to necessary military articles.
- (d)
- (Same as section f of Article 7 of military agreement.)
- (e)
- (Same as section g of Article 7 of military agreement. Substitute “naval” for “military” wherever used.)
- (f)
- (Same as section h of Article 7 of military agreement.)
- 6.
- (Same as Article 9 of military agreement, except that “naval” should be substituted for “military “wherever used.)
- 7.
- (Same as Article 10, with “naval” substituted for “military”.)
- 8.
- (Same as Article 11, with “naval” substituted for “military”.)
- 9.
- (Same as Article 12.)
Seventh year of the Chinese Republic, fifth month, 19th day; seventh year of the Japanese Ta Cheng, fifth month, 19th day.
[Here follow signatures.]
Explanatory Notes Regarding the Naval Agreement for Mutual Action Against the Enemy
I
The navies of the two countries of China and Japan, looking toward the accomplishment of their mutual efforts in the war, in order mutually to carry out their purposes as outlined in Article 1, are agreed to render each other mutual assistance in the hope that these military efforts may be fully accomplished.
II
Article 5 of the agreement is explained as follows:
The term “deputies” used in clause (a) of Article 5 of the naval agreement is defined as naval attachés of each Legation, and naval officers stationed in other places, and others to be mutually appointed in case of necessity.
[Page 226]In clause (c) of Article 5 the term “necessary supplies” shall be defined as “metallic articles “. “Necessary military articles “shall be defined as “combustibles, provisions, ammunition, such as are required in military operations.” They shall be supplied by each country according to its power.
With reference to clause (e) of Article 5 charts are to be supplied upon the request of either country.
In a place within which military operations are taking place, should it be found necessary by both sides to make surveys and soundings of any bays, such surveys and soundings shall be done by the naval authorities of the country in which the bays are situated.