BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

Evening Star, Issue 11681, 13 February 1902, Page 6

BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

A TREATY OF ALLIANCE. A HINT TO RUSSIA. A DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH. Pkb Association—By Telegraph—Coyprigbt. LONDON, February 12. Great Britain and Japan have signed a treaty of alliance. The treaty lasts for five years. It came into effect on January 30. The operative clauses ane evidently modelled otn the clause in the Austro-Gerraan treaty of 1879, which led to the Triple Alliance. The preamble describes Britain ancl Japan as actuated solely by a desire to maintain the status quo and the general peace in the Far East, to safeguard the special interests they have in maintaining the independence and territorial integrity of the Empires of China and Corea, and to secure equal opportunities therein for the commerce and industry of all nations. Article I. declares that Britain and Japan are not influenced by any aggressive tendencies in either country, kat possess views, however, with regard) to their special interests, whereof those of Britain relate principally to China, while Japan, besides the interests she possesses in China, is interested to a peculiar degree politically, commercially, and industrially in Corea- The cor*rracting parties recognise that it would be admissible for either of them to take such measures as may be indispensable in order to safeguard those interests if threatened either by the aggressive action of any other Power or by disturbances in China or Corea necessitating the intervention of eitlier. of tie contracting parties for the protection of lives and properties. Article LL states that if eitlier Britain or Japan, in defence, of their respective interest, before described, becomes involvec? in war with another Power, the other ally will maintain a strict neutrality, but may use efforts to prevent others joining the" hostilities agairpt its ally. Article TIL provides that if in the event of war any Power or Powers join in the hostilities against the ally, tbe other contracting party will come to its assistance and conduct the war in common, or make peace by irrntnal agreement with it. In Article IV. tbe allies acrree that reither, without consulting tbe other, shall enter into any separate arrangement with another Power to the prejudice of the interests described. Article V. provides that whenever in the opinion of either party tbe interests described are in jeopardy the allies shall communicate with one another fully ard frankly.

Article VI. provides that the agreeSnent is subject to notice of twelve months, prior to the expiration of the five years, of intention to terminate the asrreement, and unless fw.h notice is giver) it will be terminated tbe year after announced bv either, but if at'the expiration of the agreement eitlier party is actnaTry engaged in war tbe alliance shall continue until peace is ,%rran<red. SATISFACTION EXPRESSED. CHINA FREE TO DEVELOP HER RESOURCES. LONDON. February 12. (Received Febmajy 13, a* 9.17 a.m.) Lord Lawtdowne's covering despatch to Sir Cnrodfe Mac Donald. the British Minister at Tokio, states that the policy of the new allies had proved to bi? identical. Roth were arming to prevent disturbances m the territorial States of China or tbe adjoining regions. ' The Times' bespeaks the great satisfaction of Britain and America over the alliance, preventing, as it wiTI, any possible attempt with the sword to secure a monopoly of China's riches. Tho Ministerial organs vps* that an opportunity is now afforded Chin* to freely develop from within, while the alliance ought to strengthen Anglo-Japanese counsels at Pekm. Such a clear statement of policy is really conducive to the world's peace.