RUSSO-JAPANESE TREATY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1610, 14 September 1916, Page 4

RUSSO-JAPANESE TREATY.

Japanese newspapers express tlie opinion that the Russo-Japanese treaty dispels (lit 1 lasi German hope of seducing :my member of the alliinice. It is the strongest possible reply to the numerous oilers that have been made hot It to ./a pan and to Russia with a veiw to bringing ti holt I ti separate peaeo. Tito new eonvention is the natural outcome of the past relations between the Governments of the Emperors of Russia and .Itipan, which have home evidence of increasing .and steady growth of the rapproehment between former ('monies. In duly, 1909,, within two years of the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese war, a political entente w.as concluded, in which the two Governments, desiring to consolidate the peace and good relations established by the Portsmouth Treaty, entered into an engagement, with a view to removing all future misunderstanding one with the other, to respect the territorial integrity of each oilier, and all the rights arising from agreements between themselves, as well as their conventions with China. Three years later this was followed by a second agreement, which was destined to develop the effect of the. first convention. In this the two Government.-- agreed to mutual cooperation in the improvement of railways in Manchuria, and of their connecting sendees, and to abstain from harmful eompelilion. They agreed lo maintain the stains quo in Manchuria resulting from existing treaties, not only between tin* two contracting par!ies, but also between (la* latter ami China. They further pledged themselves in I lie event of the stains quo, being menaced, jointly to concert measures for'ils maintenance. Subsequently an understanding was arrived at between Tokio and Pelrograd concerning respective interests in (be region of Mongolia contiguous to Manchuria. This treaty has never been published, although its conclusion is an open secret. Evidence of Japan's closer relations with her allies in the west was furnished by Japan's adhesion to the London Pact to malcr no separate peace, That of itself eonr-ti/iited a step which brought Russia ami Japan more closely together. Meanwhile Japap has been in a state of industrial mobilisation iif order to help Russia, evidence of which has been forthcoming in recent events on the. field of battle. The appreciation of Russia for the loyal co-operation of the Tolcio Government found expression in the recent mission of the Grand Duke George Miehaeiovileh.