Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 15, 1902. Alliance with Japan.

Manawatu Herald, 15 February 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 15, 1902. Alliance with Japan.

The news published elsewhere of a treaty of alliance with Japan has come rather as a surprise owing to the necessary diplomatic correspondence having been kept so secret, otherwise for yeans, ever since Japan showed so unmistakably the power she had produced in her war with China, there has been a deal said aud written as to the wisdom of Great Britain entering into a treaty similarly to the one she has just concluded. Japan possesses a welldrilled army of 273,268 officers and men, and a navy of six first-class battleships, six first-class cruisers, ten second-class cruisers, six thirdclass cruisers, two torpedo gunboats, fifteen torpedo boat destroyers, and thirty-two first-class torpedo boats. A great many of these vessels were built by English firms. Our latest cablegrams inform us that Japan, the United States, and Great Britain are in unison in claiming an open dpor in Manchuria, which Russia is endeavouring to close to the outside world, in the hope of keeping the trade, and eventually the country, to herself. The position of Manchuria is too close to Japan to allow that country, to quietly acquiese in Russia occupying it, as in time Japan will need an outlet for her millions and Manchuria and Korea have always been viewed by her as the most suitable place for her colonisation, and Russia in Manchuria means her absorption of Korea at no distant date. Japan has felt so strongly on this question that she has signified hor desire to fight Russia for it, if backed up by other great Powers. It would appear as though the treaty just entered into would place her in the position to exercise her wish or to make Russia climb down from her position, without forcing Great Britain from taking part except as a bottle-holder., As the treaty sets out that the present integrity of the Empires of China and Korea'must be maintained Great Britain has got a powerful agent with her to insist upon their wishes being fulfilled. We shall, have an awful cry from the Continent, but the treaty is an undoubted master-stroke and enables the voice of Great Britain to be heard and obeyed in the Far East, as it has to be nearer Home. The restless Russian being balked in China by this alliance will break out in offensive action in Afghanistan or Persia, most probably the former, but the most favourable time for a disturbance in the former country has been lost owing to the wise steps taken, by the Ruler prior to his cL-uh, and in Persia Germany has been

sufficiently interested in to make her a pa ty to oppose Russia. The effect of the treaty has become conspicuous by the abandonment, practically, of Wei Hai-Wei, a port secured from China as an offset to Russia having been allowed to occupy and fortify Port Arthur. The concession was obtained simply against Russia and the lease of the land was to run only as long as the Russians occupied Port Arthur. Here certain work in defence was carried out and a Chinese regiment under British officers was raised. All this has been abandoned because the Japanese navy is considered powerful enough for the Russian navy. This means a saving in expenditure and the treaty so far will be economical. When Lord Onslow was mentioning this fact to parliament he omitted any mention of the Japanese-alliance. The Commonwealth will not like this new arrangement as it makes a “ White ’’ Australia almost impossible, as the objections already raised by the Japanese to the Aliens Restriction Bill will have greater weight when coming from an allay of Great Britain . We believe that the treaty will be of much good to the Pacific and establishes the power of the Empire firmer than it has ever been in these seas.