The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-13
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TREATY.


THE BRITIsH-JAPANESE TREATY.
The treaty between Great Britain and
Japan marks a new departure in interna-
tiOnal relations and perhaps a new era
in world politics. 1t has been a little less
than fifty years since Commodore Perry
entered the Bay Of Yeddo with stately
squadron of eight American warships with
instructions TO open communication with
the Japanese government and. if possible,
negotiate a treaty securing the opening of
some of the ports and the establishment
Of trade relations. Prior TO that time ia
pan had adhered strictly to nonintercourse
with other nations The appearance of
the American squadron in Japanese waters
created a panic. A Japanese writer says:
No sooner had the ships made their en-
try into the bay than the signal guns were
fired, followed by the discharge of rockets;
there were seen on the shore companies
of soldiers moving from garrison TO garri-
son. The popular cOmmOtion in Yeddo at
the news of "a foreign invasion was be-
ycnd description. The whole city was in
an uproar. In all directions were seen
mothers flying with children in their arms
and men with mothers on their backs. Ru
mors of an immediate action, exaggerated
mouth to mouth, added horror TO the nor
ror-stricken.
Commodore Perry soon gave out that
his invasion was entirely peaceful and sent
President Fillmore's letter to the japanese
Emperor and a gold box Of $1,000 in value.
AS a result of this visit, followed by a
second one several months later, a treaty
was negotiated by which Japan agreed
tc give two ports and made some trade
concessions to the United States. The
treaty was concluded in June, 1854 The
door thus opened, other nations soon fol-
lowed. A treaty with Great Britain was
signed in October, 1854, and others in rapid
succession with The Netherlands, France,
Portugal, Italy. Spain and several other
nations. The United States led the way
and the others followed.
The treaty which has just been con-
Guided is very different from any pre-
viously negotiated in that it has nothing
to do with trade and deals entirely with
international relations. 1t is the most
complete recognition of the political equal
ity of Japan that has been made by any
England and Japan allies for the preserva-
ton of the independence and territorial
integrity of China and Korea. 1t recog
nizes the right of either to interfere for
the suppression of disturbances in China
or Korea, and if any other power under
takes to prevent such interference the other
ally will come to the assistance of the first
one. To the extent of their combined
power the treaty binds England and ia
pan to prevent the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
China or any foreign invasion of Korea.
This means that Russia's policy of dis
off bite here and there, her policy of ag
gression in Manchuria and her threaten
ing attitude towards Korea are to be
blocked. The guar-s4Itse or the indie
pendence of China means. in as far as
these two powers can accomplish it, the
maintenance of the open-door policy in
trade which has been advocated by the
United States. In fact, the policy of the
treaty is so clearly that of the United
States that it would not be at all surpris-
ing 70 learn that the latter had been ap-
preached on the subject of becoming
party to it. That, of course. would be
contrary to the traditional policy of the
United States, but as far as the main OBJ
jects of the treaty are concerned, it could
not express the wishes and the policy of
this government more clearly if it had
been drawn in Washington. The London
Times is right when it says: 1.-THE solemn
conservation which the policy of the open
door receives in this agreement will be
greeted nowhere more cordially than in the
United States. whose attitude throughout
the complications in China has been con-
sistently inspired by the same considera-
tons which actuated England and Japan"
If Great Britain and Japan ever join under
this treaty in making war to prevent Rus
sian aggression in China they will be fight
ing for the principle first proclaimed and
steadily adhered to by the United States
1t is a treaty to carry out the American
policy in China without the aid of the
United States. 1t is a great stroke Of
diplomacy for Great Britain, and has given
her an Eastern ally of no mean power.