BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17429, 26 March 1920, Page 5

BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

FUTURE OF ALLIANCE.

NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING.

HEGEMONY OF THE EAST.

By TeleeraDh—Press Association—Conyricht A. and N.Z. ' LONDON, March 24.

The Australian Press Association learns ! that there is little reason to doubt that the Marquis Saionji, when visiting London after the Peace Conference, broached with Lord Curzon the question of renewing the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Unless the treaty is denounced before July 15 next it continues automatically, subject to either party giving a year's notice of intention to denounce it. It is believed there will be certain modifications, but in any case®the treaty must be reviewed and receive the" approval of the League of Nations. It is also asked •whether, in view of the crea» tion of the league, there is any necessity for a continued alliance, and the question may be raised whether the interests of Australia* and Canada will best be served by a renewal.

The alliance is bitterly resented by China, which supported the League of Nations at Paris; in the hope of the alliance being discontinued, while its existence may also prevent Anglo-American relations being placed on 'the most satisfactory footing. It appears almost certain that the negotiations now proceeding on the question whether the alliance shall be renewed, re-' cast, or rescinded, will depend largely upon the opinion and experience of the Dominions. Arguments in favour of renewal seem to depend largely upon the insecurity of Northern Australia and Hongkong, and to a lesser degree of Singapore.

Lord Jellicoe's plan to have a powerful British fleet based on Singapore, and the not impossible co-operation of America in opposition to any Japanese attempts at aggression, would effectively guard these points. If the alliance is not renewed it is unlikely that Japan will seek alliance with the Powers beaten in the war, and from whom she could obtain little advantage.

It is understood that the 'War Office and the Admiralty are not unfavourably disposed towards a renewal of the alliance. The Manchester Guardian draws attention to Japan's loan to China, the agreement on common defence measures in Manchuria, and the tenor of the Note announcing Japan's readiness to give up Kaiau-chau and to withdraw the troops guarding the Shantung railway. The paper declares : " This new policy suggests that Japan feels herself to be confronted with a new situation in the Far East, and is, therefore, initiating a modified policy. She is now endeavouring to secure a paramount position in the Far East, untrammelled by extra Asiatic interference, as the result of Europe's absorp- , tion in the war, using economic penetration rather than military intervention, such as she was authorised to employ in Siberia under the mandate as representing the anti-Bolshevik powers. Japan now hopes to establish a Far Eastern Monroe Doctrine, with herself as the natuI ral guardian."

TERMS OF THE ALLIANCE.

PRESERVING PEACE IN EAST. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance was in-

augurated in 1902. In July, 1911, it was revised and renewed for a period of 10 years. The'objects of the alliance, as set forth in the preamble of the agreement, are :— (a) The consolidation and maintenance of the general peace in the regions of Eastern Asia and of India ; (b) The preservation of the common interests of all powers in China by insuring the independence and integrity of the Chinese Empire and the principle of equal | opportunities for the commerce and in- : dustry of all nations in China;

(c) The maintenance of the territorial rights of the High Contracting Parties in the regions, of Eastern Asia and of India, and the defence of their special interests in the said regions. The articles of the 1911-21 agreement are as follows:— • 1. It is agreed that whenever, in th*> opinion of either Great Britain or Japan, any of the rights and interests referred to in the preamble of this agreement are in jeopardy, the two Governments will communicate with one another fully and frankly, and will consider in common the measures which should be I 'taken to safeguard those menaced rights or interests. 2. If by reason of unprovoked attack or aggressive action, wherever arising, on the part of any Power or Powers, either High Contracting Party should be involved in war in defence of its territorial rights or special interests mentioned in the preamble of this agreement, the other High Contracting Party will at once come to the assistance of its ally, and will conduct the war in common and make peace In mutual agreement with it. 3. The High Contracting Parties agree that neither of them will, -without consulting the other, enter into separate arrangements with another Power to the 1 prejudice of the objects described in the preamble of this agreement. 4. Should either High Contracting Party conclude a treaty of general arbitration with a third Power, it i» agreed that nothing in this agreement shall entail I upon such Contracting Party an obligation j to go to war with the Power with whom such treaty of arbitration is in force. 5. The conditions under which armed assistance shall be afforded by either Power to* the other . . . and the means by which such assistance is to be made available, will be arranged by the naval and military authorities of the High Contracting Parties, who will from time to time consult one another fully and freely upon all questions of mutual interest.

£. The present agreement shall come I into effect immediately after the date of j its signature and remain in force for 10 years from, that date. In case neither of the High Contracting Parties should have notified 12 months before the expiration of the said 10 years the intention of terminating it, it shall.remain binding until the expiration of one year from the day on which either of the High Contracting Parties shall nave denounced it. But, if,' "when the date fixed for its. expiration arrives, either ally is actually engaged in war, the alliance shall, ipso facto, continue until peace is concluded. The insertion of Article 4 in the revised agreement of 1911 had in view the AngloAmerican unlimited Arbitration Treaty, signed in August. 1911. This treaty was not ratified by the Senate, but in Septenv mer, 1914, a Peace Commission Treaty between Britain and the United States was both signed and ratified, whereby it is agreed that all disputes between the , two countries shall, when diplomatic methods of adjustment have failed, be re- [ ferred for investigation and report to a , Permanent International Commission, and : neither country shall declare war or begin hostilities during snob investigation and Before the report is submitted.