Lansing-Ishii Agreement
Encyclopedia
The was a diplomatic note signed between the United States
and the Empire of Japan
on 2 November 1917 over their disputes with regards to China
.
In the published text of the Agreement, signed by United States Secretary of State
Robert Lansing
and Japanese
special envoy Ishii Kikujirō, both parties pledged to uphold the Open Door Policy
in China
, with respect to its territorial and administrative integrity. However, the United States government also acknowledged that Japan had "special interests" in China due to its geographic proximity, especially in those areas of China adjacent to Japanese territory, which was in effect, a contradiction to the Open Door Policy.
In a secret protocol attached to the public Agreement, both parties agreed not to take advantage of the special opportunities presented by World War I
to seek special rights or privileges in China at the expense of other nations allied in the war effort against Germany
.
At the time, the Lansing-Ishii Agreement was touted as evidence that Japan and the United States had laid to rest their increasingly acrimonious rivalry over China, and the Agreement was hailed as a landmark in Japan – United States relations. However, critics soon realized that the vagueness and differing possible interpretations of the Agreement meant that nothing had really been decided after two months of talks. The Lansing-Ishii Agreement was abrogated in April 1923, when it was replaced by the Nine-Power Treaty
.
For the Japanese, if the Lansing-Ishii Agreement of 1917, which acknowledged Tokyo’s special interests in part of China, did not imply equality with white people, it did recognize that Japan could not easily be ignored in international affairs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
on 2 November 1917 over their disputes with regards to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
In the published text of the Agreement, signed by United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Robert Lansing
Robert Lansing
Robert Lansing served in the position of Legal Advisor to the State Department at the outbreak of World War I where he vigorously advocated against Britain's policy of blockade and in favor of the principles of freedom of the seas and the rights of neutral nations...
and Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
special envoy Ishii Kikujirō, both parties pledged to uphold the Open Door Policy
Open Door Policy
The Open Door Policy is a concept in foreign affairs, which usually refers to the policy in 1899 allowing multiple Imperial powers access to China, with none of them in control of that country. As a theory, the Open Door Policy originates with British commercial practice, as was reflected in...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, with respect to its territorial and administrative integrity. However, the United States government also acknowledged that Japan had "special interests" in China due to its geographic proximity, especially in those areas of China adjacent to Japanese territory, which was in effect, a contradiction to the Open Door Policy.
In a secret protocol attached to the public Agreement, both parties agreed not to take advantage of the special opportunities presented by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to seek special rights or privileges in China at the expense of other nations allied in the war effort against Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
At the time, the Lansing-Ishii Agreement was touted as evidence that Japan and the United States had laid to rest their increasingly acrimonious rivalry over China, and the Agreement was hailed as a landmark in Japan – United States relations. However, critics soon realized that the vagueness and differing possible interpretations of the Agreement meant that nothing had really been decided after two months of talks. The Lansing-Ishii Agreement was abrogated in April 1923, when it was replaced by the Nine-Power Treaty
Nine-Power Treaty
The ' or Nine Power Agreement（Chinese:九國公約） was a treaty affirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China as per the Open Door Policy, signed by all of the attendees to the Washington Naval Conference on 6 February 1922....
.
For the Japanese, if the Lansing-Ishii Agreement of 1917, which acknowledged Tokyo’s special interests in part of China, did not imply equality with white people, it did recognize that Japan could not easily be ignored in international affairs.
External links
- The Imperial Japanese Mission to the United States, 1917, Appendix B. – Containing full public text of the Agreement