THE FAR EAST

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 155, 26 March 1920, Page 7

THE FAR EAST

~ ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY MODIFICATIONS EXPECTED OPINIONS OF DOMINIONS TO : BE CONSIDERED (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright '■ London, March 22, The Australian Press Association learns that there is little reason to doubt that the Marqu's Saionji, when visiting Landon after the Peace-Conference, broached with .Lord Curzou the question of renewing the -Japanese Alliance. Unless the Treaty is denounced before July 13, it will continue automatically isubjed to a year's notice) for ten years. '.It is believed that fltere will be certainmodifications; but in any case tho Treaty must :be reviewed if it is to receivotlie approval of the League <of Nations! It is also suggested whether in view of tho creation of the League there is any necessity for the Alliance to be continued, and .the -question may l:-e raided whether -the interests of Australia and Canada would bo tet served by its renewal. The -Alliance is .'bitterly resented ill China, -which supported tho League of Nations :plan at Paris in the hope that tho Alliance would be .while its existence may prevent Anglo-American relations being 'placed on ike -most-.satis-factory-footing. It appears .almost certain that .-the • negotiations now proceeding .as to whether the,-Alliance .shall be renewed,-recast, or rescinded will-depend largely upon the opinion .and experience of the -Dominions. ATguments in favour of the renewal of .the Alliance seem to depend 'largely -upon -the insecurity -of" Northern Australia and Hongkoug, ,and, to a lesser degree, Admiral Lord Jellicoa's plan to -hav.e a powerful British Fleet based on Singapore, and the not impossible co-operation of America..in opposition to any Japanese attempts -at agression, would effectively guard these points. If the Alliance is not renewed, it '-in unlikely that' Japan will seek an alliance -with .the Powers beaten in the war, from whom -she would obtain little advantage. It is understood that the War Office and the Admiralty are not unfavourably disposed towards the 'renewal of the Alliance—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. JAPAN'S MODIFIED POLICY ' PAE EASTERN .MONROE DOCTRINE AIMED AT. London, 'March .'22. The "Manchester Guardian" draws attention to the Japanese loan to China and -the agreement .for common - defence measures in Manchuria, and to the tenor Of the Note announcing Japan's readiness to give up luaochau and withdraw the troops guarding-the-Shantung railway. The paper declares that this new policy suggests that Japan 'feels herself confronted with a new situation in the Far East, anil is. therefore, initiating.'.! modified .policy. ;Sho is now endeavouring to secure a ,paramount position in -the Far East, untrammelled by the interference of non-Asiatic Powers. As the result nf Europe's absorption in the war, she is usi.ife economic '(penetration rather than military intervention such as-slio was authorised to employ in Siberia, under the.-maridato.as -representing the antiBolshevik .Powers. Japan now lwpes to establish :a 'Far Eastern Monroe'doctrine, with herself as tho natural guardian.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISORDERS IN JAPAN ' REGIMENTS . RECALLED FROM SIBERIA. London, March 22. News from Japan is still arriving via Peking. Reports dated March 11 state that there is grave social, disorder in Tokio and elsewhere. Direct .Foreign Office cipher cables, the latest of which is dated March '20, do not anontion any unrest. The authorities assume that the disorders are less .-serious than the Chinese reports -allege. On the other hand, a report that six Japausse.regiments have been recalled from Siberia owiDg to Bolshevik tendencies at home is probably true —Aus.-N.Z. Cable-.-.ssn. MILITARY FACTIONS IN CHINA BLEEDING COUNTRY UNCHECKED. Shanghai, March 22. China badly-needs a master. The military factions 'in the Noiltli .and South continue to-bleed the country .unchecked. There is no hope of improvement until tho Foreign .'Powers interested combine' and withhold further loans except for reproductive purposes.—"The Times.