The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1920. A PACIFIC ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 214, 4 June 1920, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1920. A PACIFIC ALLIANCE

An important step forward in consolidating pcacc and promoting international amity is suggested in the hope expressed by Japanese diplomats in Washington that the United States will become a party to the Anglo-Japanese defence alliance. In tho cablegram on the subject which appears to-day it is add-, nd that Japan "sees that it is possible to supplant the League of Nations by a series of defensive alliances between the principal world Powers." This is hardly the happiest way of stating the position. Defensive alliances of the right kind are calculated not to supplant flit League of Nations, but to approach as nearly as possible the international conditions envisaged by the .authors of the, League of Nations Covenant. Far as the existing state of Europe is from realising the hopes that were entertained when the Covenant was drafted, the alliance between Britain, Prance, and Italy is the best guarantee meantime afforded that peace will bo restored and maintained in 'that part of the world. In the same way ft defensive alliance between the threo important naval Powers which front the Pacific would be an excellent guarantee of continued peace and a step towards bring-1 .ing the League of. Nations into effective existence. From the standpoint of the British Empire sueli an alliance is infinitely preferable to the simple renewal of the Anglo--Japanese Alliance. It is at least doubtful, whether public opinion in the Dominions would approve the renewal of this pact even in a. modified form. This does not imply any lack of desire to perpetuate the present, friendly relations with Japfiil The feeling is rather thai treaty with Japan belongs to /& limited past upon which it ought to be possible to improve with great advantage to all concerned. It is widely held also that an understanding with Japan would be too dearly bought if it threatened even remotely to impair Anglo-American friendship. The difficulties thus raised would be happily solved if the United' States joined Britain i and Japan in a defensive alliance. To all three Powers, as well as to other nations whose territories border on the Pacific, such an alliance offers great and unqualified benefits. If it were sjicpessfully concluded its first fruit, presumably, would be a mutual agreement to limit naval armaments. The British Empire would be enabled to approach from , a- modified standpoint the problem of making adequate provision for naval defence in the Pacific, and the United States and Japan would each .be able to modify the extensive naval preparations which at present constitute. a heavy and unprofitable tax on their resources.

; So far as the merits of the ease are concerned there does not seem to be anything to set down, on the, other side of the account. An agreement by the three great naval Powers in the Pacific to. maintain peace and limit armaments need entail no vexatious or doubtful obligations. _ It is true that an effectivo defensive alliance must be motfs than merely negative in character It ought, for instance, to embody an agreement between the contracting parties to take united actiop in case of unprovoked aggression against any one of their number But with the Empire, the United States, and Japan joined in a defensive pact, the danger of aggression on these lines in the Pacific, would be exceedingly remote. In any case, in an alliance of this char* acter, as in the broader outlook of the League of Nations, the essential groundwork to bo built upon is an agreement between nations to abstain from provocative tactics in piling up armaments. The most obvious impediment to' the threePower defensive alliance in the Pacific which has so much to commend it is, of course, the political tanglo which has yet to be unravelled in the United States. - With President Wilson and the Senate hopelessly at odds, there is little enough immediate prospect of coherent_ and purposeful action by America in the field of international politics. A change for 'the better is hardly to be expected until after the Presidential election at the end of tins year, and even then cannot be counted upon with certainty. It seems possible, however, that a political settlement may be reached which would enable the United States to take an active and worthy part in international affairs. In the midst of the unedifying wrangle that has been in progress ever since the Treaty of Versailles was submitted to the Senate, many public men and newspapers have been declaring and reiterating that the policy of isolation is no longer possible and that America is bound to assume its international responsibilities.» Strong emphasis has been laid too upon the desirability of abolishing competitive armaments. Some grounds are thus afforded for believing, that a defensive alliance of tho three great Pacific Powei-3 will ultimately commend itself to America as well as to Britain and Japan. Evidently, however, an., immediate by_ the United States in this direction is not to 'be expected. In these circumstances it will be no easy matter for the representatives of Great Britain and the Dominions, who are shdrtly to 'discuss the renewal of the AngloJapanese Alliance, to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. It is clearly desirable, however, .that the United States should .be _ afforded every reasonable opportunity of becoming a party to any new understanding reached by Britain and "Japan, and even if further delays arc involved the Empire certainly ought not to enter into such engagements to Japan as would in any respect jeopardise the cstabI lisiiment of a oroadcr-based alli'ance comprehending both branches of the Anglo-Saxon race.