RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1916, Page 6

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

CAUSE OF THE ALLIANCE.

Renter's Agency learns from an authoritative Japanese source that by the treaty recently signed at Pctrograd Germany's hope of seducing any member of the Alliance has been most effectively dispelled. It is the strongest possible reply to the numerous offers that have been made both to Japan and to Russia with a view to bringing about a separate peace. As to the actual negotiations wluch have just reached so satisfactory a conclusion, it should be noted that for months past the newspapers both of Japan and Russia have been strongly advocating closer political relations between the two countries. The negotiations, of which the convention is the result, presented no difficulties whatever, and the Allies of Japan and Russia were advised several days ago of their progress. The new convention is the natural outcome of the past relations between the Government of the Emperors of Russia and Japan, which have bome evidence of increasing and steady growtii of the rapprochement between former enemies.

In July, 1909, within two years of the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War, a political entente was 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 nil future misunderstandings one with the other to respect the territorial integrity of each other, and all the rights arising from agreements be tween 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 Governments agreed to mutual co-operation in the improvement of railways in Manchuria, and of their connecting services, and to abstain from harmful competition. They agreed to maintain the status quo in Manchuria resulting, from existing treaties, not only between the two contracting parties, but also between the latter and China. They further pledge themselves in the event of tin; status quo being menaced, jointly to concert measures for its maintenance. This agreement was again a natural development of those proceeding it, and was doubtless accelerated by certain actions of Germany which eventually resulted in the present war. S?nl.stqui : ntly an understanding was arrived at lei ween Tokio and virtrogtad concerning thur respective interests in the region of Mongolia contiguous to Miiiiciiiu ia. This treaty lias never been published, although its conclusion is an open secret

■liv'dtiiue of Japan's closer relations with her Allies in the West is Aira-slicd by Japan's adhesion to the London I'nct to 'mate no separate peace. Tiiai of >tself iom-titiifnl a step \vhi; v t brought Russia and Japan more closely together. M?an\vlii!c liupun has been in ,1 stale of indvistvial mobilisation in order (o 1-rlp Riusia, evidence of which has been forthcoming in recent events on the field of hattlel The appreciation of Russia for the loyal co-operation of the Tokio Government found expression in the recent mission of the Grand Duke George Michaeloviteh. The new agreement is parallel with and complementary to the existing alliances between Great Britain and Japan, and Russia and Franco, and it is in the spirit of those alliances that it ha 3 been negotiated and received by the Allies.