The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1911. BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 21, 19 July 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1911. BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

When Britain in 1005 entered into an alliance with Japan—then in the flush of a great victory and desiring recognition as one of the earth's great civilised Powers—there were many who believed that British diplomacy and statesmanship had gone "wool-gathering." Especially in Australia (and in a minor degree in New Zealand) the . idea of an alliance between a race emerging out of Barbarism and the leading civilised nation in the world was galling, or. at least it was so stated. During the currency of the agreement the people who were at first most violent in their antagonism to the treaty desired to know what would happen to Australia and New Zealand in 1914, showing, of course, that

they must have regarded the existing agreement as a safeguard from attack by Japan on any British territory in the Pacific. It is certain that colonial communities neither saw the height, breadth or depth of British diplomacy, nor understood that British statesmen were not guided by "little Englander" eo»siderations. The far-reaching international influence of the 1905 treaty can be understood when it is remembered that the treaty made it a point of honor with either signatory power to consult in difficulties. This meant, and still means, that Japan, which is the imitator in all things of Britain, has during the currency of the treaty confided her inmost heart to Britain. She has been unable to move without notifying British statesmen, and to an exuberant Power like our allies, rejoicing in a great victory and aching for conquest, this put the necessary brake on her. The second article of the existing treaty, which makes an unprovoked attack on either's interest a common quarrel, is still included in the amended treaty. Any fear of aggression on the part of Japan in regard to British countries is removed in so far as an agreement can remove it. ,A breach of tho agreement would make the British Empire t'he armed adversaries of Japan, and Japan is not likely to risk her commercial future and her national life by such aggression. It may be taken for granted that Japan, if she could overcome colonial scruples, would "colonise" under the British flag, but the extended Imperialism by which the dominions now exercise greater powers in the conduct of their own affairs is a safeguard against admission of any considerable number of "little brown men" to Australasia. The importance of the new Article IV. of the amended treaty cannot be over-estimat-ed. The original article defined Japan and Britain's rights in respect to the Indian frontiers. The new article is obviously and happily intended to simplify the situation between Japan and America, for it enacts that should either signatory Power conclude a treaty for general arbitration with a third Power, it will not help the other signatory Power in case of war with the country 1 with which the arbitration agreement is in force. That is to say, Japan might fight the United States of America. Britain would not help Japan to fight the United States, despite Article TT. The fear often expressed that in the event of a Japanese-United States war, Britain might be embroiled in war with her blood relations across the Atlantic, therefore vanishes. The idea of Japan tackling the United States lone-handed is a remote one. The genius of American and British statssmen in formulating an arbitration treaty is crystallised in this new Article IV. The article, recognising Japan's right in Korea, is deleted from the amended treaty. This is very possibly because Japan has not keen clean-handed in Korea. The article exacted that the commercial rights of other countries should be safeguarded. It is certain that they have not been. Hence the deletion. The fact that the

Koreans liave been made miserably subject is another reason. It is not unlikely that Britain will be Korea's very good friend, for Korea needs a friend., The most gratifying feature is that the j treaty has bepn renewed long before, the | term at which it would naturally have expired and those who predicted the "Japanning" of Australia some time in IDO4 now have to fall back on "Wait until 1921!" The treaty will not be void even then unless notice has been previously given by one of the high contracting parties. It is, of course, inconceivable that Britain will give any notice of annulment of the treaty if Japan is of good behaviour, and it is unlikely that Japan will cry off unless she feels fit to "lick creation." Although it is still competent for anyone to regard Japan as the "bogey of the Pacific," the amended treaty will bring a crumb of comfort to many people who expect to wake up any morning to see the Mikado's flag floating from the washhouse. If the treaty is kept until 1921, the British Empire will have so expanded in power and influence as to make prospects of Japanese aggression unthinkable. This expansion, together with a perpetual agreement not to fly at the throats of our American relatives, will make this old earth a still pleasanter place to live in. Perhaps by that time even Gcrtnany will have taken the mail off her "fist" and her soldiers be wearing dove's wings in their helmets instead of the terrible Bird that to so many seems to flap death to British interests.