The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 17, 1902. THE TREATY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 342, 17 February 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 17, 1902. THE TREATY.

ITom all parts, at Home and abroad, there comes a chorus of approval of the Anglo-Japanese treaty. The Auckland Herald clearly sums up the position We are not hungering after Chinese territory, but we are not ready Lo look with complacency upon other Powers securing territory or advantages of any kind which are not shared’ by all alike. But it does not follow that we would he prepared to go to war with Russia.in Lie event of that country permanently establishing itself in Mongolia or Manchuria. How far treaty with Japan would compel us to act in that contingency is doubtful. The treaty, however, is a clear declaration and warning to the other Powers that any aggression on their part which would injuriously affect our interests in China would he resisted, and that in certain circumstances we would be assisted by our new ally. This means that Uiough we have an army locked up in South Alrica, Japan, if called upon, could at very short order pour into China or Corea 190,000 men with over 400 guns, and yet have 130,000 reserves behind to garrison the forts or guard communications. The treaty has given us a powerful force in the Far East ready on occasion to act for the protection of British interests. Tlie advantage secured by Japan lies in safe-guarding Corea from Muscovite aggression. The interests of Russia and Japan in the Far East are so conflicting that they would probably have led to war before now had not Russia felt that it would be running too great a risk to precipitate matters before her position was consolidated, while Japan, on the other hand, was restrained by the fear of her isolation. The danger of such a conflict lias been enormously diminished by the treaty.