ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17118, 13 April 1921, Page 7

ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

9 # ~ -J — ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIA. ' 'GRATIFYING NEWS.' * (By Cable—Press Association—copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) SYDNEY, April 12. * Mr K. Tamaki, acting Uonsul-General for Japan, endorsing Baron Hayashi's comment on Mr Hughes's statement regarding tho Anglo-Japanese Alliance, said the statement would be gratifying news to the Japanese, some of whom were disposed to believe that the radical and sensational sentiments sometimes promulgated in Australia expressed tho unanimous belief of the people of the Commonwealth. In tho House of Commons on March Ist Lieut .-Colonel Sir Frederick Hall (Co'-Unionist, 'Dulwich) asked whether the terms of the treaty arrangements botweon Great Britain and Japan precluded the possibility of assistance ; to Japan in anv conflict which might arise between that country and tho United States of America, and if assurances on this paint had been given to the American Government in connexion with their consideration of their naval buildini; programme. Mr Kellaway, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said Article 4 of the Anglo-Japanese agreement of July 13th, 1911, provided:—-'Should either High Contracting Party conclude a treaty of general arbitration with a third Power, it is agreed that notXig. in this agreement shall entail upon such contracting party an\ obligation to go to war with the Power with whom Bucb. treaty of arbitration is in force.," ■ ( At the time when the agreement was ■under negotiation a General Arbitration Treaty between Britain and the United States -was being concluded., and this circumstance inspired the adoption of tho terminology of Article 4 by his Majesty's Government and the Japanese Government. As to, the true spirit in which that article was • conceived, the Japanese Government have always entirely shared, and continue to share, the views of his Maiosty's Government. The General Arbitration Treaty was not ratified by the United States Sanate. Subsequently, however, on September 15th, 1914, a Peace Commission Treaty was signed and duly ratified, under which, when all diplimatio methods of adjustment had failed, all disputes between the two countries of "any nature whatsoever other than those disputes the settlement of which i 3 wovided for" are to be referred to an" Investigation Commission. The Peace Commission Treaty is not, technically,, a General Arbitration Treaty, but their objects are the same. My hon. friend will understand from my answer that. our relations with Japan are so arranged as not to involve us in the possibility. of conflict with the United States of America. (Cheers.) .As regards the second part of the question, no official communication has been made to the United States of America, as thero is no reason to believo that the responsible authorities are in any doubt as to the true position. (Cheers.) '