ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17114, 8 April 1921, Page 7

ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY.

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES. NAVY LEAGUE PEESIDENT'S VIEWS. , Before ordinary business was taken :it last night's meeting of the General Committeo of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League, the president, Mr H. J. Marriner, read a memorandum with the proposed renewal of the Treaty between Great Britain and Japan. Mr Marriner said t)hat the League should understand what the Treaty stood for in tho past and what it will mean. in the future. He outlined tho history of the Treaty, explaining that the Third Alliance was necessary to Great Britain owing to i'he change in our naval policy. Japan was practically asked to police the Pacific and to watch our interests in the East, so that England could concentrate all her naval power in the North Sea. At the outbreak of tho great war, it was at once apparent' that our policy was the rigli!< one, and Japan did 'her part truly and well, and convoyed oui troopships, patrolled and protected our shores, and made us free from the menace of tho German cruisers. She conquered tho German possessions in the East, taking numerous prisoners, and transferring lior own' troops to man the gairisons anfi! forts. She was not called upon to do much more, as our Navy had bottled-up the German Fleet in their ports, and eased tho danger from attack at this end of the world; Owing to nearly all the nations being drawn into the war, and the coast of Japan free from invasion, she was able to manufacture and export her goods, filling uf a gap in commerce, left by Germany, and the other nations who were lighting. During tlhis period her wealth increased beyond the dreams of the most ardent and patriotic Jap, and gave her a solid financial position, and having very little to meet in war expenses, she and tho United States were the only people who really profited by the war, and her status raised higher amoiigst tlhe nations. There was not the slightest doubt that the Anglo-Japanese Treaty hnd benefited Japan more than Great Britain, and had placed her 'on an equality with tlhe European nations, and the question they had to ask themselves was whether, seeing that the Russian and German menaces had passed, itwas advisable to renew This compact. It had served its purpose, and wo migjht have helped to raise a l''rankensteiii monster which might in the future be a trouble to us. The Treaty caused a great deal of unpleasantness among the Continental nations,. and was bitterly resented. The power which Japan had acquired through tho Treaty, und possessions acquired during the war. practically gave her the key to the Wbstern Pacific, which she intended to hold, while the British prestige had suffered. "The questions which suggest themselves," he concluded, "should this Treaty be renewed, and which will affect this Dominion, are : firstly, are we justified in renewing the Treaty, seeing that the reason for which the last was entered irito h a thing of the past. Secondly, in the event of it being renewed it i a essential, should trouble come between Japan or any other, nation, that our Empire should not be drawn into it. Thirdly, that we are as strong in our opinions as the United States that these lands should not be the dumping grounds for Asiatics. Fourthly, that Japan should be made to carry out the spirit and -letter of the Treaty, and that she should not be allowed to prac-' tically close the doors against free trade' and commerce in the lands she has a protectorate over, suoh as Korea and Southern Manchuria. It is to be hoped that the Treaty will be allowed to lapse, as it has served its ■usefulness, and, if renewed, may draw us into trouble with the .United States." Mr J. J. Dougall asked if the memorandum was to be taken as an expression, of opinion by the committee. Ho did not think it was judicious for the League to enter the field of high politics. The chairman said it was not intended as an. expression of the views of the committee. He did not consider that it dealt with politics. Mr A. C. Maxwell referred to the interview with Mr Marcus S. Hill, which appeared in yesterday's issue of "The Press," and said that from it Japan was', it seemed, following Germany's lead—speaking of peace, but preparing for war, and war with tho United States. They had to think of their position in the event of war between those countries.. . Mr Dougall said that the point he desired to emphasise was that it was not desirable for this branch of "tho League to take up such subjects. The public were liable to think, that the president' was expressing the views of the committee. Mr W. Walton Said that members of the committee were not.aware that the question was to be discussed. Tho chairman said that his object was to "draw the attention of members to the trend of affairs. Mr Dougall: It is a very debateable 'subject. . The chairman: It is a question that affects us greatly, and is one that we should thresh out . The secretary (Mr C. J. Treleaven) stated that the previous General Committee had invited Professor J. Macniillan Brown to address the League on tho subject of the Treaty, which he had done, and had pointed out tho dangers connected with it. Tho chairman said he did not think the question should be wrapped up; it should be discussed. Mr Dougall.said that they ought to have a discussion on the subject. Per* sonally, ho did not agree with very much that the chairman had said. He doubted the wisdom of the League taking up work of tho kind. Mr A. Ferguson aaid he endorsed Mr Dougall's views. It would be fatal if the branch,, simply because an American without credentials said all sorts of things—things that they knew long perhaps before Mr Hill was born—• snould be led away. They should remember that they were very glad a few years- ago to have the Japanese fleet to protect their boys when leaving for the front. Mr Maxwell: Wo might not be so glad next time. Mr Ferguson said he did not think that it was competent for the branch to express views on high politics. He was not blind to what was taking place, but they ought not to exasperate tho Japanese by stating things about which thev knew very little. The chairman said that, bis memorandum was written some time before the interview appeared in "The Press.'' He would let the. matter rest.