NOT AN ALLIANCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 5

NOT AN ALLIANCE.

RUSSO-JAPANESE ENTENTE-

PLANS TO CARVE UP CHINESE

PROVINCES

"SPHERES OF INTEREST." By Tcleerapli—P-rcss ABsociatlon-Conyrleht (Kec, July 19, 10.30 p.m.) London, July 19. ' Router's Tokio correspondent declares that tho reports of tho early conclusion of an alliance between Russia and Japan are incorrect. There have been no negotiations for such purpose and none are projected. Some most important Notes, however, have passed between the two Foreign Offices, supplementing the agreements of 1007 and 1910, with a view to defining Russia's sphere of interest in Outer Mongolia and Northern Manchuria, and Japan's in Inner Mongolia and Southern Manchuria. By "Inner Mongolia" is α-eaiit the portion of Manchuria formerly so called. ' ' Tho negotiations have led to tho clearest understanding and have created an entente of the greatest importance for the preservation of pcaco in. tho Far East, and second only in importance to the AngloJapaneso Alliance.

Questions of foreign policy have lately been much discussed in the Japanese pres3, and the valuo of the Alliance with Brita'n has been tho subject of animated controversy. The "Japan, Times" said recently : We rejoice to think that our ally in tho West is now on terms of growing intimacy with Russia, since we flatter ourselycs that wo arc. also in a eimilarly intimate relation with that country. Wo remember hearing from tho late Prince Ito that, when in conversation with tho Marquis of Lansdowno, tho Prince intimated that • after the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was completed he hoped that Japan would enter into an alliance with Russia. The Marquis replied at once "So much tho better." It is in. a, similar spirit that wo regard the growing intimacy between Great Britain and Russia. Wo do not think, however, that the Alliance haa become Jess valuable on that account. Both Japanese cordiality and English intimacy with Russia are, we are bound to think, conditional on the Anglo-Japanase Alliance, ami when that Alliance breaks down the present understanding between tho three Powers is bound to receive a great shock. In Russia the Nationalist / party have steadily pressed for a forward policy in tho Far East. The "Novae Vremyo." reoentiy declared that "everyone is aware that Japan, is systematically appropriating the southern half of Manchuria, and that hence Russian diplomacy must make up its mind as to "what we should do with Northern Manchuria."