The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1905. THE ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7919, 7 September 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1905. THE ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

To what extent the renewal of the alliance between England and Japan influenced the decision of the Mikado and his advisers in waiving ihe obstacles to the settlement of terms of peace with Russia is at present matter of conjecture, bin that it was a potent factor in the compromise is beyond nil question. The unknown plenipotentiary whose published statement appeared at the psychological moment said :

We have heard that a new treaty of alliance was signed by England and .Japan not many days ago. We believe before it was signed Great Britain hinted strongly that she desired Japan to make peace.

.... That is why we think there will be new proposals forthcoming on Monday. We think that llritish view* also had weight at I'etershof.

.So true was this forecast that it seems impossible to regard it other than as an inspired pronouncement which was intended to prepare the world for an amicable settlement or. tonus just at the very time when all hope of the success of the Conference appeared to be lost. We are not concerned with the parade which ltussia has made over what she ha.} proclaimed as a complete diplomatic victory, or the ostentatious display of boasting which has supervened. If the Czar and his people can with satisfaction weigh the. terms of peace in the scale against the enormous loss of men, money, and prestige which has been inllicteu by the Japs on the Colossus of the -North, then by all means let. them rejoice over their diplomacy and relegate their ignominious defeats at sea, and on laud, to olilivioii. Japan, on the other hand, has obtained what ideuinity or any other money could not purchase. Apart from the substantial) benefiu, accruing from having jumped so suddenly into the first rank amongst the Towers, and the satisfaction of having driven Hussia step by step at of t he bayonet towards her own territory, Japan has, in the new alliance with, Ureal Britain, secured something which promises to far exceed in permanent value any of the demands which were rejected at the Conference. The Japanese "people" may feel a pang of disappointment at the loss of the expected indemnity money, but when they come to realise the magnitude of the gain to the country by the new alliance with Britain, their regret should give place to intense satisfaction. There is every reason to believe that the Japs thoroughly realise the benefits which they reiiped from the treaty which has just been superseded, fur without that safeguard war with Russia could not have been entered upon without the almost certain prospect of Interference by other Towers. The alliance Willi Britain secured for Japan a free hand in the conflict, as Britain was pledged to come to Japan's aiil if any other Tower joined forces with Kussia. The result should have proved to the Japs that such an alliance is far more valuable than money, and therefore that the Renewal of this treaty, even at the sacrifice of some of the cherished fruits ol victory, would be infinitely preferable to the prolongation of the exhaustive ami sanguinary conflict entailing an expenditure of lives ami treasure, even if successful, considerably greater than Japan couM hope to claim iV.cu Kussia. The late Al- . liance. in the nurds of Baron Kik-> uclii, "after three years of a seventest in the fiery furnace of experience, in time not of quiet and peace but of anxiety and trouble, had the unanimous support of every section of the community in both Kmplres." The terms of the new alliance are not yet fully known, but from the meagre details that have been divulged it is evident Hint it provides for a considerable extension of the previous treaty, and that while it is purely defensive, if, will'effectually secure the maintenance of the territorial status quo in Asia, and provide joint protection of the interests of both partners against any hostile ac-

tion on the part of oi., ■: .. i'ow-l crs. That the arrange:. will not] be acceptable to (iermam i-, very probable, but that it will act as a powerful guarantee of peace may be assumed. The position is aptly summed up by the Jiji Shimpo (the Times of Japan) as follows :—"Extend the scope of the Alliance. Make it tin agreement binding absolutely each of the contracting purlies to comj to the assistance of the other in the event of war. Then, with Britain's Navy holding the command of Far lOastern seas, and with a Japanese Army ready to land at any [Joint on the Asiatic Continent, a combination would exist such as no nation or clique of nations might venture to defy. From thatitimv there would cease to he danger of wholesale aggression at the expense of China, or oi nienauce against India, or of the dosing of the commercial door in the Far East. The situation would uc controlled by Anglo-Saxondom with Japan."-