Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-08
japan, England, France and Russia.

1anan,s Indignation at France has eVF
so,,.,,, Increased during the past few days
>. daoraa which demands emphatic ex-
,,rasc{on II seems probable now that uh-
Iass tho government at Paris takes imme-
diate and satisfactory steps toward d CUM
nIete rehabilitation OF France In Japan
eves IN the matter of giving harbor to the
Russian fleet at kamranh bay, Japan "N
call England into the affair under the 'ei ms
of the Anglo-Japanese treaty. Such d iiioVe
would be highly interesting as stroho Vi
international politics, In view OF inc re-
Gently established entente between Ehsiano
and France.
II Is now charged that the Russian ships
were coaIed and supplied with much-neeoeu
provisions while lying in Kamranh bay for
a period of ten days: that these suppiies
were shipped from Saigon. French port
where they had been previously accumu-
lated: that the trans-shipment at Kamranh
bay took Mace under the eyes OF French
naval officers there stationed, and that the
Russian officer in charge of the shipments
was the commander of the Russian cruiser
Diana which now lies interned at Saigon,
where she fed after the sortie from Fort
Arthur, his activity at Kamranh bay being
a breach of parole.
Such a transa action Is unquestionably IN
violation of the requirements imposed upon
a neutral nation. and If proved In TINS case
will put France in an untenable posllion
short of a frank espousal or the Russian
cause Meanwhile the anti-French sentiment
in Japan Is rising to high pitch- Inc
English attitude is as yet underlined, save
for a single utterance by the London Times.
which declares emphatically that France
has placed herself in the wrong and calls
upon the British government to do its duty
to it's ally.
The treaty between Japan and England
was concluded in London January 30, l9O2,
and having a life of five years. Is there
fore in full force today. The preamble OF
this treaty recites that the contracting
parties are actuated by a desire solely to
maintain the status quo and general peace
in the extreme east. and especially in main
taining the independence and territorial in
tegrity of China and Korea, and in securing
equal opportunities in those countries for
the commerce and industry of all nations.
Japan and England therefore mutually rec
ognize the Independence of China and
Korea and declare themselves to be entirely
untnfuencad by any aggressive tendencies
in either country. They announce that it
will be admissible for either of them to
take such measures as may be Indispensable
in order to safeguard their interests in
China and Korea II threatened by either
internal disturbance or outward aggression.
and if either party in the defense of its in
ests as thus described should become in
volved in war with another power-aS Japan
has become involved with Russia-the other
high contracting power (England will
maintain a strict neutrality and use its eff
forts 10 prevent other powers from joining
in hostilities against Its ally (Japan). But
If any other power should join in hostilities
against either ally Uapan). the other party
England will come to its assistance, will
conduct the war in common, and make
peace in mutual AGREEMENT
There can be little doubt that If France
were detected in a plain violation of neu-
trality, even in the matter of allowing Rus
STA to a French port for reprovisioning
a fleet otherwise helpless for an aggressive
campaign, Japan would have right to cite
the case act of hostility by an outside
power and to cali upon England for the in
PREVENTION promised under the terms of
the treaty of 1902. Thus far Japan has
made no definite move in that direction.
but the tone of the London Times COM
nent indicates that there is a lively appre-
hension in England that the situation may
soon Justify Japan in taking such a step.