The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-13

land This, however, Lord RosEBERT
declined TO give. ..
That this was a grave blunder Ia now
recognized by the Liberals themselves,
but they we're not fully alive 10 IL at the
| time when the Unionist Government
concluded the existing treaty with Japan,
and consequently regarded that agree
ment with some indifference. Their
views, have changed materially, how
ever, daring the present war. Even Lord
ROsEBERY now declares that the treaty
must be renewed. Az to terms, how
over, Liberals and Unionists differ
widely,
II Is certain that the Japanese would
like a modification Of those clauses OF
the existing treaty that relate 20 COrea
and Manchuria, Japan Ia engaged In
the moral intellectual and industrial
regeneration OF the Corean peninsula,
and she naturally does not wish TO be
hampered by pledge TO respect the SOW
ereignty Of the worthless ruler who
ostensibly Ia still enthroned at Seoul.
Then, again. the Mikado's advisers want
to be relieved from the obligation to
uphold China'A title TO the whole Of Man
churia, for they deem themselves clearly
entitled by right Of conquest TO that
part Of the Laotung peninsula which
was leased by China to Russia, even II
they do not insist upon regaining the
coast strip which was conveyed TO them
BY the above mentioned article Of the
ShimonOSeh treaty, We presume that
both England and the United States will
take the position that, while Port Arthur
and DAlny belong 10 their oonQueror,
Japan's requirement Of the MSnohurian
seac cast would hardly be reooncilable
with the maintenance Of the open
Door in Msnohuria,
There Is another question Of great i'm
portance TO Great Britain. as well as TO
Japan. which apparently will be left
to a Liberal Government to consider.
The existing treaty binds England to
assist Japan only in case the latter ooun-
try should be attacked by two great
Powers at once, The substantial but
unavuwed assistance rendered by France
to Russia naval operations has brought
home TO the Toxic Government the eI-
IRENE difficulty Of proving Sust when
il is entitled TO the aid Of its ally. Tho
dificulty Is emphasized in the present
case because Lord LANsDowNR and NJ.
DKLcAsSR seized the opportunity offered
BY the war in the Far East to settle age
long differences and 10 enter into a
friendly understanding From that mo-
ment Il must have been clear 70 the
Mkado's advisers that their ally would
regret TO SEQ herself called upon for
action that must needs bring her into
collision with France.
1t is patent indeed. that II NJ. DBL
CAssE had not contrived 70 propitiate
England during the last fifteen months,
he would never have ventured 10 con-
nive at RoJEsTvENsKY's prolonged So
journ in the waters Of Madagascar and
Of Indo-China Japan, therefore, con-
WINGED that the existing treaty is for her
by no means satisfactory, is expected
TO propose a substitute by which the
signatories will be bound to aid one an
whether by two Powers or one Power.
In pursuance Of such an agreement, the
British feet in the Far East would al
ways be at the disposal Of the Mikado
to repel Russian, or German, or French
aggression, while on the other hand the
Japanese army would be at the service
Of the Calcutta Government, should
Russia attempt an invasion Of British
India or Of its sphere Of influence.
1t is needless at this time TO enlarge
on the possible consequences Of such a
treaty as the Japanese desire. That
England would conclude such a treaty
if the Unlonists were to remain in Office
is not improbable. On the other hand.
it may be that the Liberals will shrink
from assuming responsibilities greatly
transcending those incurred by the eX-
isting agreement.