The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-12
POWERFUL
ALLIANCE.
Great Britain and Japan Sign
ers Of a Treaty
To Maintain. the Integrity of
China and Korea.
CAME AS A SURPRISE.
Negotiations Were Carried on
With Such Secrecy
That None Appear to Have Sus-
pected What Was Going On.

London, Feb 12-An important par
iamentary paper was issued last night,
giving the terms of a practical alliance
between Great Britain and Japan for
the preservation of China and Korea.
The paper covers a dispatch sent by
Lord Lansdowne secretary of state for
foreign affairs, January 80, to the Brit
ish minister at Toxic, Sir Claude NJ.
Macdonald and comprises signed
copy of the agreement. In explanation
the paper says the agreement may be
regarded as an outcome of the events
of the past two years. Throughout the
boxer troubles Great Britain and Japan
had been in close and uninterrupted
communication and actuated by similar
views.
I'VE each desire,'' Said Lord Lans-
downe, 'that the integrity sand indie
pendence of the Chinese empire should
be preserved and that there should be
no disturbance of the territorial stutus
quo, either. in China or the adjoining
regions"
The discovery that their far eastern
policies were identical resulted in each
party to the agreement expressing it's
desire that their common policy find
expression in an international contract
of binding validity
Lord Lansdowne further says that the
British government was largely in
f1uenced in entering upon this import
ant contract by the conviction that 1T
contains no provisions which can be re-
garded as aggressive or Self-seeking.
He says it is concluded merely as
measure of precaution and that it in no
way threatens the present position OF
legitimate interests of other powers.
His majesty's government trusts that
the agreement will be of mutual advan-
tage to the two countries and make for
the preservation of peace, and should
peace unfortunately be broken it will
have the effect of restricting the area
of hostilities. Following are the terms
of the agreement, signed in London,
January 80:
1.-The governments of Great Britain
and Japan, actuated solely by desire to
maintain the status quo and general
policy in the extreme east and being
moreover, especially interested in main
tanning the independence and territorial
integrity of China and Korea and in Sc
curing equal opportunities in those
countries for the commerce and indus.
try of all nations, hereby agree as fol-
lows:
Article 1.-The high contracting pow
ers, having mutually recognized the in
dependence of Korea, declare them
selves to be entirely uninfiuenced by
country. Having in view, however,
their especial interests, of which those
of Great Britain relate principally to
China, while Japan, in addition to the
terested in a peculiar degree, politically
as we'll as commercially and Industrial
ly in Korea, the SignatorieS recognize
that it will be admissible for either of
them to take such measures as may be
indispensable in order to safeguard
those interests if they be threatened
either by the aggressive action of any
other power, or by disturbances ariS-
ing in China or Korea, necesSitating
the intervention of either of the con-
tracing parties for the protection of
the lives and property of its subjects.
article 2-If either Great Britain or
Japan, in defense of their respective
interests, as above described, should be-
come involved in a war with another
power the other contracting party will
maintain strict neutrality and use it's
effort to prevent other powers from
| joining in the hostilities against it's ally.
article 3-If, in the above event any
other power or powers should join in
hostilities against that ally the other
contracting party Will come to its as
sistance and will conduct war in COM
mon and make peace In mutual agree
| 1nent with it.
Article 4-The contracting parties
agree that neither of them will, with
( out consulting the other, enter into
separate arrangements with another
power to the prejudice of the interests
| above described
ARTICLE 5-Whenever in the opinion
| of either Great Britain or Japan the
above mentioned interests are jeopar
! died the two governments will com
municate with one another fully and
| frankly
Article s provides that the agreement
| comes into effect Immediately and re-
| mains in force for four years and be
binding for year after either party de-
| nounces it. But if. when the date fixed
| for the expirement of the agreement ar
| rives either party thereto is actually en-
gagged in war the alliance shall ipso
| facto continue until peace is concluded
The agreen ent is signed by Lord
isI4ansdowne and Baron Hayashi. the
JapaneSe minister to Great Britain.
/ These ministers SO well kept the secret
| had adjourned for the night. an
nouncing the first important alliance
| between a western and a yellow or
| Asian race, comes as a startling sur
| prise to the public, and although the
| idea of an alliance with Japan is likely
| to meet with general approval the out
| come of this sensational departure will
/ be anticipated with little anxiety.
/ 1t is regarded as a direct move against
Russia and to explain the abandonment
| of the colony of Wei Hal Wei
| A STARTLING SURPRISE.
London. Feb. 12--Referring editorially
| to the Rritish-Japanese Alliance, the
morning papers.to whom the agreement
comes as a startling surprise, ask many
pertinent questions concerning it. The
| Daily News says:
Our magnificent isolation has come
| to an end with @,retty sudden shock.
Whether the treaty is indicative of an
anti-British coalition in the far east,
whether it marks the tearing up of the
| Anglo-American treaty and whether the
visit of Prince Henry TO America is an
answer to the new naval allowance are
| matters of speculation We hope the