Britain and Japan.

Manawatu Herald, 15 February 1902, Page 2

Britain and Japan.

A TREATY OF ALLIANCE.

Great Britain and Japan have signed *9 treaty of alliance. The British-Japanese treaty will last for five years. It took effect on January 30th. The operative clauses are evidently modelled, on the clause in the AustroGerman treaty of 1879 which led to the Triple Alliance. _ The preamble describes Great Britain and Japan as being actuated solely by a desire to maintain the status quo and general peace in the Far Last, to safeguard the special interests which they have in maintaining the independence and territorial integrity of the Empires of China and Korea ; and to secure equal opportunities therein for the commerce and industry of all nations. Article one declares that Great Britain and Japan are not influenced by any aggressive tendencies in either country, but reviews, however, their special interests, whereof those -of Britain relate principally to China, while Japan, besides the interests which she possesses in China, is interested in a peculiar degree, politically, commercially and industrially in Korea. The high contracting parties recognise that it shall be admissible for either of them to take such measures as may be indispensable in order to safe guard those interests, if threatened either by aggressive action by any other Power or by disturbances in China or Korea necessitating the intervention of either of the contracting parties for the protection of lives and properties. Article two states that if either GreatBritain or Japan, in defence of the respective interests above described, become involved in war with another Power, the other ally will maintain strict neutrality and use efforts to prevent other Powers from joining in hostilities against its ally. Article three reads :—-If in the above event any Power or Powers- join in hostilities against its allay, the other contracting party will come to its assistance, conduct wai in common, and make peace by mutual agreement with it. By article four, the allies agree that neither, without consulting the other, shall enter into separate arrangements with another Power to the prejudice of the interests described above. Article five is as follows Whenever in.the opinion of either party the interests described are in jeopardy, the allies shall communicate with one another fully and frankly. Article six says that the agreement is subject to notice, twelve months prior to the expiration of the five years, of an intention to terminate it. Unless such notice is given, it is to be terminated a year after announcement is made by either party. But if at the expiration of the agreement either •party is actually engaged in war, the alliance shall continue until peace is arranged. The covering despatch of the Marquis of Lansdowne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Sir Claude Macdonald, British Minister at Tokio, states that the policy of the new allies has proved identical in aiming to prevent disturbances in the territorial States of China or the adjoining regions. “ The Times ” bespeaks great satisfaction in Britain and America over the alliance, which will prevent possible attempts to secure with the sword a monopoly of hina's riches. The Ministerial organs agree that an opportunity in now afforded Cbipa to freely develop from within, while the alliance ought to strengthen AngloJapanese counsels at Pekin. Such a clear statement ot policy, they consider, is really conducive to the world’s peace. The treaty everywhere came as a surprise. It received the moral support of the American Government.

The German Government is sympathetic. The Kaiser paid an early •visit to Sir F. Lascelles, the British Minister at Berlin, who afterwards visited Count von Bulow, the Imperial Chancellor.

German newspapers recognise that the South African war has not disabled Great Britain.,

French newspapers consider the treaty as a pledge of peace and as removing elements of uncertainty, especially in regard to Korea. Austrian papers tear that if Russian activity is checked in the Far East, it will re-appear in the Near East.

American papers are unanimous in

cordially acclaiming the treaty as a guarantee of an open door. The Radicals favour the friendship of Japan, bdt fear that the treaty is too onerous.

The “Daily Mail” says that the Marquis Ito was the author of the treaty, and that he previously draw Russia into overtures embodying more exacting conditions.