IMPORTANT ALLIANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 339, 13 February 1902, Page 2

IMPORTANT ALLIANCE.

TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRI

TAIN AND JAPAN

Liy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, Feb. 12. Great Britain and Japan have signed a treaty of alliance.

PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY. EFFECTIVE FOR FIVE YEARS. INDEPENDENCE OF CHINA AND COREA GUARANTEED. By Telegraph. Press Association. Copyright Loudon, Feb. 12. The British-Japanese treaty lasts for live years, and took effect on the 30th January.

The operative clauses are evidently modelled on the clauses in the AustroGerman treaty of IST 9, which led to the Triple Alliance. The preamble describes Great Britain and Japan as actuated solely by a desire to maintain the suitu quo and general peace in the far East, and is to safeguard the special interests they have in maintaining the independence and territorial integrity of the Empires of China and Corea, and securing equal opportunities therein for commerce and industry to all nations. Article one declaros that Great Britain and Japan are not influenced by any aggressive tendencies in either country, but views, however, their special interests, whereof those of Groat Britain relate principally to China, while Japan, besides the interests she possesses in China, is interested in a peculiar degroo politically, commercially, and industrially in Corea.

The high contracting parties recognise that it will bo admissable that either of them take such measures as may be indispensable in order to safeguard those interests, if threatened either by aggressive action of any other Power, or disturbance in China or Corea necessitating the intervention of the contracting parties for the protection of lives and properties. Article Two states that if either Britain or Japan in defence of the respective interests above described become involved in war with another Power, the other ally will maintain a strict neutrality, and use her efforts to prevent others joining in the hostilities against her ally. Article Three is that in the above event any Power or Powers joining in the hostilities against the ally, the other contracting party will come to its assistance and conduct the war in common, and make peace by mutual agreement with it. Article Four states that the allies agree that neither, without consulting the other, shall enter into any separate arrangements with another Power to the prejudice of the interests described above.

Article Five stateß that whenever, in the opinion of either party, the interests described are in jeopardy, the allies shall communteate with one another fully and frankly. Article Six states that the agreement is subject to notice of twelve months, prior to the expiration of five years, of the intention to terminate. Unless such notice be given it shall be terminated a year after announced by either, but if at the expiration of the agreement either party is actually engaged in war, the alliance shall continue until peace is arranged.