The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-10-21
Nowhere Has There Been Such Destruction
Of Native Prosperity as Has Been
Inflicted Upon India.
The Treaty With Japan is But a Piece Of
Bluff to Bolster Up the Fortunes of
Decaying Empire.

all the other European powers taken
together. and which has governed
these great areas with a success denied
to England.
From no part of the Asiatic domin-
ions of the czar do such cries of ia.
mine and pestilence go up as from
India. Nowhere has there been such q
frightful destruction of native PROS
pcrity as England has inflicted upon
India.
Nowhere Is Russian rule so fiercely
hated by Its subjects as English rule
is hated in India. An intelligent Hin
doc gentleman told me that Russian
invasion of the country would be well
coined by the Hindoos of all creeds, on
the principle that the czar's rule might
be better and certainly could not be
worse than that of England. 1t is the
consciousness that they have failed to
give India the prosperity it's resources
cntitle it to expect, and that they are
of Its people. which renders them un-
easy MS to their possession of the coun,
try, and makes them solicit the sup
port of an Asiatic power in maintain-
ing their authority there.
Yet they have secured from Japan
nothing more than an expression Of
t,,,
government in exchange for an express
sion of their good will in his practical
annexation of Korea. II sounds differ
emily when we read that the two pow
ers are bound to give aid, each to the
other, i'm case either Korea or India is
attacked. But with how many SOL
dicrs? The rule of International law is
that treaties of alliance must clearly
specify what and how many troops
shall be employed in the defense of the
invaded territory of the ally. 1t has
always been understood that the omis-
sion of this converts the treaty into a
mere expression of good will, which
leaves each perfectly free to do as it
pleases when the critical moment
comes. A treaty of alliance, with this
omitted, is simply a piece Of bluff, an
nouncing to the world that the two
powers love each other beyond meas
ure, and will do all sorts of unmen-
toned things If either be attacked.
But 1t creates no actual obligation
whatever. and will be so treated when
the critical hour arrives. The incom-
petent and tyrannical Irish landlord
who negotiated the treaty must have
been aware Of this. 1t will not do to
trust too much to his own knowledge
of anything; but he has suborGinates
in the English department Of state
who know the law of the matter, and
who must have told him how useless
such treaties always have been. He
has played his game Of bluff with
good understanding of its meaning,
and innocent Americans have risen to
his bait. But his success Is personal,
not imperial. The empire gains MOTH
ing.
Some of our American critics see in
the treaty menace to Germany, who is
required to give up her lease of Kiao-
Chau and get out Of China. Which of
the signatory powers is to take the
step Of turn her out? It is Japan,
which has taken over the Russian lease
of Port Arthur and Dalny? Does she
forget that the German lease of the
port in question is to run by the terms
of the agreement as long as the lease
of Pert Arthur? Is it England with
her gross violation Of the integrity Of
China by her prolonged occupation Of
Hong Kong? "The integrity of the
Chinese Empire is good bit Of bluff
but it does not sound we'll on the lips
of the Power which broke the charm
ed circle of Chinese independence in
pursuing the infamous objects of her..
first opium war. Hong Kong is just
as much Chinese territory as is Kiao-
Chau, and there is no principle which Il
would require the evacuation of the
latter which would not apply equally