JAPAN AND THE ALLIANCE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2265, 19 April 1921, Page 4

JAPAN AND THE ALLIANCE

The views of the .Japanese Government in respect of the revision and renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance were set forth in the Diet recently by Count Uchida, the Foreign Minister. He said the -Japanese Government had been giving careful consideration to the question with a view especially to its relation to the Covenant of the League of Nations. They had entered into a conference with the British Government, and a frank exchange of views on this matter had taken place both in London and Tokio. In view of Article (i of Ihe existing Agreement of Alliance, it was decided to address to the League of Nations a joint notification to the effect that the Government of Japan and Great Britain had come to the conclusion that the Anglo-Japanese Agreement of July 13tli, 1011, though in harmony with the spirit of the Covenant of the League of Nations, was not entirely consistent with the letter of that Covenant, and that they, accordingly, recognised the principle that if the agreement was to be continued after July, 1021, it must be in a form not inconsistent with the Covenant. The notification was conveyed in a Note dated July Mill, 1020. The principle which should guide the Japanese Government in revising the Agreement was at present a subject of serious study, regard being had to the articles of the League Covenant as declared in the joint notification and to many important changes which have taken place in the aspect of affairs since the conclusion of the present Agreement. That this Agreement of Alliance had' largely and distinctly contributed to the peace, .stability, and welfare of the entire Far East was fully realised by both nations, and not only was the continuance and preservation of I lie wholesome spirit of this alliance for a long time to come desire* I by the more thoughtful of the two peoples, hut it was, ho was sure, in perfect harmony with high ideals of the League of Nations.