New-York tribune., 1902-02-13
THE NEW ALLIANCE.
COMMENT IN LONDON on ITS SCOPE
AND PROBABLE RESULTS.
N ACCORD WITH THE PRINCIPLES Up.
HELD BY SECRETARY HAY-EAsT-
ERN SECURITIES ADVANCE.
Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune Association)
fBY CABLE TO TIE TRIRrSF1

Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune Assocdation)
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEI
London, Feb. 13, l a. rn.-The Anglo-JananAse
agreement remains the chief topic of the press
Of England and the Continent. Lord LansdoWne
Is warmly praised by the Unionist journals for
substituting action for phrases in establishing
safeguards for principles to which every i'm
portant power has formally assented, and is
criticised rather feebly by the Opposition press
Tor exposing the country to dangerous liabili-
ties and for negecting to define closely the Joint
interests forming the basis of the new alliance.
The best test Of the utility of the coalition.
which is subject to limitations. and is both Of
tensive and defensive, IS the obvious fact that
II would have prevented the occupation of Port
Arthur and whatever advantage Russia has de-
rived from secret diplomatic dealings with China
in recent years. It is also in accord with the
Anglo-Gernlan agreement respecting China and
with the principles upheld by Secretary Hay
throughout recent complications. The risks of
war have not been recklessly enlarged by the
agreement, which closely resembles Bismarck's
German-Austriap alliance in 1879. subsequently
szpanded into the Triple Alliance. and these
hsye been peace measures. England is only
co-mitted in the event of war between Russia
and Japan TO the same kind of benevolent
nsutrality which without an alliance was useful
70 the United States in the war with Spain.
England viii be brought in If France and Rus
sa join in attacking Japan. precisely as the
Triple Alliance will operate on the Continent
But the liability Of war is not greater in one
ease than in the other. The objection urged by
LIBERAL leader writers, that the independence of
China nav mean anything or nothing IS an
Fvered by the text Of the preamble Of the
agreement, in which independence is coupled
corea and the open door, principle, and the
phrasing is rendered definite and explicit.
The Daily Nail" prints a telegram from
Toxic showing that the new alliance was
brought 10 head by the recent visit of the
Marquis Ito. who would, had he not succeeded
in arranging treaty with England. have con
Guided with Russia.
The agreement has met with a favorable re-
oeption on the Continent, and Germany regards
i as great success for British diplomacy.
The Russian papers have not yet passed any
comment, but the general opinion in well in
formed circles in St. Petersburg appears to be
that the alliance viii not adversely affect rela-
tons between Russia and Japan.
Talk among the members Of Parliament yes
tsrday turned mainly upon the new treaty.
Men ike Henry Norman. who have been favor
Ing for years an alliance with Japan, were
i@eh!y pleased The DnlonlSt supporters were
relieved by an explanation of the evacuation Of
Wei-Hai-Wei as a naval station which was
entirely adequate Radical objectors were sus-
plcious and predicted that another surprise
would come in the form Of a Russian Chinese
agreement Of a sweeping nature. which had
brought England and Japan together. The
stock Exchange was extremely pleased by the
news Of the alliance yesterday. japanese and
Chinese bonds were eagerly bought, and rise
q ~. 70 s41i. was marked in japanese fours.
]. n F