Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-09
ENGLAND AND JAPAN
Anglo-J japanese Alliance
Plans for Renewal.
ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA
WHY SHOULD EMPIRE BORROW
MONEY WITH GOLFERS OF GOLD?
Gossip Over Lord Selborne's Reputed
f-Sacrifce-Comment Over Sale
of Rare Gems.
ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
LONDON, March 80 1905.
Nearly two years have yet to run before
the AngIO-Japanese alliance expires, but al
ready the way is being prepared not only
for its renewal. but for it's extension in
scope. At present the treaty is limited to
causes of war arising f. ON any dispute con-
corning the far east, and imposes upon
Great Britain the obligation of going to
Japan's assistance should she be attacked
by more than one power, the same obliga-
ton, of course. resting upon Japan should
this country be attacked by a combination.
1t is now sought to extend the scope of the
treaty when it comes up for renewal, so
that 1t may apply to any casus beli, no
matter how arising, and committing either
power TO go to the assistance of the other
if attacked by only one enemy-to make it,
in fact, a hard and fast dual alliance.
The premature anxiety to raise this ques-
ton now Is probably to be ascribed to the
fear of those who are urging it forward
that the liberal party, on whom the respon-
sibility of reconsidering the renewal of the
treaty will in all likelihood fall will let the
alliance expire altogether. While the lib
erals may with complete propriety refuse to
say what they will do in certain hypothetical
circumstances, it may be pointed out,
Lord ROsebery stated the other day, that it
was a liberal government that made the al
lance possible by its refusal to aid and
abet Germany, France and Russia in rob-
bling Japan of the SpoilS of the victory after
the Chinese war. The liberal party at pres
ent has no diplomatic standing" it has no
inside knowledge of the springs of the in
ternational policy that might make a re-
newal of the alliance desirable or undesir-
able, and therefore the appeal made to the
liberal leaders to declare their policy on
such a matter is a useless proceeding.
ig GtlvppStiVa the DrppOSal the
extension of the treaty comes from Tokyo
in a long and portentous communication
from the Times correspondent and 1t Is
also significant that il should come al a
moment when there are undeniable signs of
approaching peace. The objects of the
treaty of 1902 were first, to keep the peace
in the east by plain ntimaton of the
British and japanese view of Russias en-
croachments on Chinese territory. and, sec
ondly. II war should come that It would be
confined to the two principals. Britain
agreed in pugilistic parlance, &c keep the
ring" The treaty failed TO preserve the
peace but it has so far. been successful in
limiting the war to The two belligerents.
Now, with peace in sight, ii must be the OBJ
ject Of Japan's sagaci us statesmen to take
every possible precaution against recur-
renee of the present war.
1t is vain to think that Russia will not
seek by every me MS 10 recover her lost
provinces and prestige. IT is certain that
Russia from the moment that peace is de-
clared, will devote herself to the accom-
pIishmeut ami fulhllment Of this great am
bition. Nothing that Japan can do In i'm
posing terms of peace. even in demanding
that Russia shall in future keep no fleet in
far eastern waters. can prevent Russia
from seeking that revenge for which she
knows so well how to wait. 1t is to intt-
mate TO Russia that when the day comes
on which she will make the effort to restore
her shattered prestige and recover her lost
provinces she will have to fight both Great
Britain and Japa.. that Japan now seeks
for an extension of the treaty. so as to in
clude that eventuality and make the peace
that is coming lasting one.
Russia's Financial Status.
Matter-of-fact people may be inclined 10
ask why, if Russia has her state Golfers full
of gold, as her minister of finance declares,
she should be moving heaven and earth to
borrow money? The answer however. is
not very far to seek. Russia is in posi-
ton of great capitalist. or landowner,