ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 220, 11 June 1921, Page 7

ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE

THE CHINESE VIEWPOINT SETTLEMENT OF SHANTUNG QUESTION URGED By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Rec. June 10, 10.15 p.m.) London, June 9. Interviewed by the "Morning Post,” Mr. Lennox Simpson, political adviser to China, emphasised the point that if the An gio-Japanese Alliance were renewed without a settlement of the questions outstanding between China and Japan, it must mean that Britain was willing to sacrifice China in. order to insure her position in the Pacific. Chinarealises that Britain was in a tight corner in 1917, when forced to acquiesce in the secret treaties concerning Shantung, but now she can do as she pleases in the Far East. The indifference to the Chinese viewpoint may have strions consequences. China believes that the Anglo-Japanese agreement, regarded as an instrument for the protection of Australia, is ridiculous, because the alliance can last only a, few years. If Japan really has designs on Australia, the latter cannot, five or ten years hence, be in a position to defend herself. But no one in China believes that Japan contemplates an invasion of Australia. Everyone knows that Japan never takes a leap in the dark. If she started on a career of conquest, her first objective would be the chain of islands —Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. The difficulty in connection with Shantung can be settled before July 13 if Britain brings China and Japan together in Ijondou, assisting them to discover a basis for an understanding. Shantung is to China what Alsace was to France.

Mr. Simpson said that during his recent visit to the United States, he found that while no American statesman says the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance would be an unfriendly act, all think so. Mr. Simpson is convinced that the Canadian Premier will refuse to agree to anything harmful to British and American relations. Very strong antiBritish feeling is manifesting itself in China, and is only kept in check by the authorities’ exhortations io the people to suppress dmonstrations of hostility unless realy provoked.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. HUGHES REPLIESJO AUSTRALIAN CRITICISM (Rec. June 10, 10.45 p.m.) London, June 9. Referring to the comment made in Australia on alleged statements by him about the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, Mr. Hughes says the criticism is based on something ho did not say. He made no statement to tho Press on the matter in England.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn