OCR Text |
Show ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY REVISED JULY Z, IE! I The Rival revised Aiifvlo-.Tapanoso treaty was signed at London. The fourth claus coiroberates the associate press forecast from Tokio July 11, in which it was said that Great Britain propose,) to modify the clause providing mutual assistance in the event of war making the provision inexplicable in the event that either party to the agreement was fig-huns a nation with whom the other had concluded a general arbitration arbitra-tion treaty. The treaty is to run for ten years from dates. The most important change in the original is in the 4th article, providing pro-viding that if either party concludes a treaty of general arbitration with a third party, the alliance shall not entail en-tail an obligation to go to war with that power. Article 2 was of the most importance to the United States and is as follows: "If by reason of unprovoked attack or aggressive action, whenever arising; on the part of any other power or powers . either contracting party should be involved in-volved in war in defense of its territorial rights or special interests mentioned in the preamble of this agreement, the other contracting party will at once come to the assistance of its ally, and will conduct the war in common and make peace in mutual agreement with it." This clause made it possible that in the event of war between the United States and Japan the arms of Great Britain would be turned against their cousins on this side of the Atlantic. To make impossible such a contingency contin-gency a revision of the treaty has been urged in high places and an Associated Press dispatch from Tokio on July 11 Sit forth that Japan, being convinced that a war with the United States was beyond belief, readily agreed to such a mullification of the treaty as would make possible a permanent arbitration treaty between England and America. Editorial views of the London morning morn-ing papers on the modified Anglo-Japanese allianc are colored by their attitude atti-tude towards, the Anglo-American arbitration arbi-tration project. The Morning Po t, v. uich opposes the latter, subjects 1 revised treaty to - severe criticisms. It points out in regard re-gard to the fourth article of the revised treaty that when a third power proposes pro-poses to attack either of the allies its first step would be to make an arbitra- j tion treaty with the other ally. The j sime procedure could equally be em- p! yed if either ally desired toevadeits j obligation and in either case an arbitra- j tion treaty made in such circumstances would be an act of bad faith. The Post at the same time professes disbelief in the possibility of a conflict between the United States and Japan and advocates the conclusion of an arbitration ar-bitration treaty between two countries. The Chronicle, on the other hand, sees no cause for anything but congratulations. congratula-tions. It regards article four as the happiest possible augury because it shows that Japan sees no reason for centemplating anything but the maintenance main-tenance of frienJly relations with the United State and further because it proves that Great Britain's good overseas over-seas dominions recept the Japanese alliance al-liance as best for the common interests of the empire. The other papers, while expressing doubt as to the advisability of the prolongation pro-longation of the alliance, which has never been really popular here, agrees in congratulating the government on the-renioval of the speciaK danger of Great Britain bi'.'o.nin? involved in a qu-u-rel with the United States and heartily welcomes the new treaty as paving the way to the conclusion of an Anglo-American arbitration treaty. The Times, in an editorial, is conli- j dent that though some chauvinists may regard the new treaty with disfavor, the great mass of people in the British empire, in the United States and Japan will rejoice that the great bulwark of peace in the far east has been confirmed, confirm-ed, strengthened and extended. Not often, says The Times, does the signature of any tiv.ity bring assurance of peace to so large a part of civilized mankind. "Looking at the fact," continues the paper, "that the policy of an alliance I with Japan vvas begun by Rosebery, continued by Lansdowne and renewed : by Grey, the day has gone by when for-I for-I eign statesmen can contend that Eng-I Eng-I land's party system has rendered alli-I alli-I anees with her insecure and impracti-i impracti-i cable. We welcome the treaty as a I condition of Anglo-American arbitra-j arbitra-j tion and because it is the work of the j responsible statesmen of the empire." i President Taft, when advised of the action, expressed no surprise, but showed show-ed plainly his satisfaction. He indicated that his previous advices had assured him that the two countries would agree to such a modification. The state department de-partment is equally pleased, as it clears j the way to adoption of the arbitration ; treaty bvthe senate. I |