Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-27
TREATY MADE KNOWN
Agreement Between England
and Japan.
ON A COMMON BASIS
TERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN EAST
ERIN ASIA
Guarantees Integrity Of Chinese EN-
pire and Pledges the
Open Door.

The text of the new agreement between
Great Britain and Japan, which was signed
by Lord LandsdowHe, the British foreign
secretary. and Baron Hayashi, the Japa-
nese minister to Great Britain, on August
II, was issued by the foreign office in Lon
don last evening. The momentous docu-
ment is brief one. comprising less than
500 words. including eight articles and a
preamble.
Accompanying the agreement is a cover
ing-letter from Lord Landsdowne to the
British ambassadors at St. Petersburg and
Paris, for transmission to the Russian and
French governments. respectively, in which
the foreign secretary courteously reviews
the agreement and carefully points out
that the new defensive alliance is not in
tended as menace, but rather as a guar
antee Of peace and prosperity in the far
east. in which all countries may particle
pate.
The main features of the new agreement
have already been forecasted. The pithy
articles Of the official text, however, bring
out forcefully the tremendous Importance
to both countries of this alliance, which
practically makes Great Britain japan and
Japan Great Britain for the purposes of
defense in the regions of East Asia and
India" This inclusion of India specifically
as point at which any aggression by "a
foreign power will call for the assistance
of Japan finds much favor with the press
of London, the morning papers, in long.
laudatory articles. welcoming the new and
more extensive alliance of the two insulaT
Kingdoms west and east as giving imme-
date relief from the dangerous thunder
cloud which for SO many years has hung
over the Indian frontier.
An Assurance of Peace.
Baron Hayashi. who was interviewed
after the publication of the agreement, said
1.-THE new treaty forms an effective safe
gl.ard against the renewal of disturbances
in the far east. That is its object. We
CO mot say that permanent peace has
been secured-that Is too much to be sure
of. but we can aver that tranquility has
been assured for long time to come. This
applies not only to Great Britain and
japan, but also to all powers having po-
litical or commercial interests in that part
OF the world; in fact. to all who have been
Interested in maintaining the status quo. l
repeat that the treaty is a sure guarantee
of peace, for that is it's aim and object 1t
should be clearly recognized by all that it
is not meant as menace to any one. It
has no aggressive intent, Its only object
being to secure the peace of the world, so
ia the far east is concerned The treaty
is SO clearly worded that no further COM
nent is needed, and am convinced that 1t
will form, was intended, the most power
full factor for peace. / hope that the peo-
pie of both countries will realize this and
viii. keep to the spirit of the treaty for a
very long time to come.
Sir Charles Dixie took the position that
the new treaty makes no change In the pre-
existing status quo, but said it was an in
eyitable consequence of the new conditions
in the far east, and that 1t was certainly
stronger guarantee of the maintenance of
peace than the previous alliance He, ar
gued that Russia never really was a men
ace to the Indian frontier. but merely
played on the susceptibilities of Great Brit
ain With regard to Persia. he did not be-
lieve that Russia would ever risk a quarrel
with India.
Germany's Reception.
'In reality" said Sir Charles, ''the coun-
tries most affected are France and Ger
many, because to both the new treaty Sc
cures possessions which they might have
found it impossible to defend. To France
the arrangement is entirely satisfactory.
With Germany the case may be different,
because it deals blow at the aspirations
which Germany Is supposed to entertain
with regard to the province of Shantung,
and because Germany's present privileged
position in Shantung may become nom
existent by reason of the treaty Germany.
therefore, may have some slight feeling of
irritation because of the limitation thus inn
posed. 1t Is only in this respect that the
treaty is likely to give rise to any perma-
nent unp,easantness. In all other respects
it makes for peace"
While there is some criticism of the treaty
in the radical newspapers, it is only half
hearted. and. as whole, London, which
has been anxiously awaiting the breaking OF
official silence with regard to the document,
heaves sigh of relief and greets-with
great satisfaction the positive assurance
of the future assistance of powerful orien-
tai ally in all matters pertaining to far
eastern policies.
Preamble to Treaty.
The preamble outlining the objects of the
treaty reads:
1.-THE governments of Great Britain and
Japan. being DESTROYS of replacing the
agreement concluded between them January
go 1902. by fresh stipulations, have agreed
upon the following articIes which have for
their object:
"A. Consolidation and the maintenance Of
general peace in the regions. of eastern Asia
and India.
"R. The preservation of the common in
terests of all the powers in China by insur-
ing the independence and integrity OF the
Chinese empire and the principle Of equal
opportunities for the commerce and indus
try of all nations in China.
&c. The maintenance of the territorial
rights of the high contracting parties In the
regions of eastern Asia and India, and the
defense of their special interests in the said
regions"
The text of the treaty is as follows:
Article l. 1t Is agreed that whenever in
the opinion either of Great Britain or Japan
any of the rights and interests referred to
jeopardy. the two governments will commu-
nfcate with one another fully and frankly
and will consider In common the measures
which should be taken to safeguard those
menaced rights or interests.
ARTICLE 2 Should either of the high
contracting parties be involved In war in
defense of its territorial rights or special
interests, the other party will at once come
to the assistance of its ally, and both par
ties will conduct a war in common and
make peace In mutual agreement with any
power or powers involved in such war.
Article g. Japan possessing paramount
political, military and economic interests
in Korea, Great Britain recognizes Japan's
right to take such measures for the guild
ance, control and protection of Korea as
she may deem proper and necessary to
safeguard and advance those interests pro-
viding the measures so taken are not con-
trary to the principle of equal opportunities
for the commerce and industry of all ma
tons.
Article 4. Great Britain, having spe-
cial interest In all That concerns the Sc
curity of the Indian frontier, Japan rec
ognizes her right to take such measures
In the proximity of that frontier as she
may find necessary Tor safegua- ling her
Indian possessions