The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” TUESDAY, JULY 5th, 1921.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” TUESDAY, JULY sth, 1921.

ANG’tiO-.J A i ’ANF.SE TREAT t . As was generally expected the AttghiJapenoso 'Treaty is to he renewed. I ho original treaty was made in 1911, : ‘tul ended Britain’s “splendid isolation as a great, power.” The importance of this alliance was manifest from the outset, and while the association with Grot. Britain gave Japan an unexpected standing among the leading Rowers, placing .Japan on a status with Britain it. s ,.|f, Britain in return derived many advantages. The most striving is in respect to the far-llttng Empire. In I Ik Ea*t. Far Fast and the'Pacific-, Britain hns lias very material interests. I hey are remote front the common centre ol the Empire, and in a period of gn at crisis (which ultimately arose) stood out as very tempting ntorscls for a rapacious enemy. Also, within the possessions are many creeds and colors, and with the restless spirit for change which has been growing up all round the world, in the midst of a serious war involving Britain ojsewhere. it is conceivable that by stirring up revolts m the out of the wav possessions of Britain, serious ■consequences might ensue. Th ( > world war overtook the nations i„ 19! L and the alliance with Japan at once became of the greatest value to Britain. Earlier, because ol ib. friendly relations with Japan. Brit a in had been able to reduce her China naval squadron to a negligible quantity, while on the other hand at the outbreak of war in August 1914, Germany, thi' potential- enemy, bad a somewhat formidable licet. Japan in accordance with treaty conditions at once ranged herself on tlu* side of Britain in Asiatic and Pacific waters, though the war itself was being fought far away cm Euro poan soil. There was immediate ptoo ~f the value of the alliance. A. list laid, and New Zealand soon had occasion lo realise tlu* value of the Japanese navy, by its friendly policing of military convoys travelling overseas. Without the aid of the Japanese navy, disaster would have overtaken the transvert of the colonial troops to Allied fronts, f.n the same way, Japan being on the side of Britain there was. military strength available lor any activities i„ Asia, and the Japs played a prominent part in ousting the Germans from China. Tho alliance therefore f'clpcd to keep the freedom of the sens for eomiu'-ree and all purposes in the

Far Fast, and up to the time of the revolution in Russia served a useful purpose in that puart'T also, by maintaining the friendly relations between Britain and Russia. Thereafter Japan took on obligations in regard to land campaigns in Eastern Russia with': were of great service to the Allies. The alliance was thus of such a useful character and so faithfully observed, that Britain still retaining her great possessions in the Fast, has occasion now tis before to desire the lw-lp of a powerful ally in the time of critical crisis. Both naTions derive added prestige been use of the strength derived ftotn the union, and as the strength. as has been demonstrated, is being used for international benefit there should be no bolding objection to its renewal. The Fnitcd States has certain racial objections to the Japanese, and is protesting. Australia had similar objections before the war. and so had New Zealand. We recoil Mr Massey’s anti-Japanese speech in the Princess Theatre here before the war. also. But experience has proved the useful valm* of the alliance, and the Japanese on their part have acted in good faith. Their support is of great service to Britain, and is a particular aid in helping to secure world peace* for when the crisis came Japan did not Itesdate to join the Allies in ill,, defence o! lie* rights "f r-ivilisat ion.