New-York tribune., 1907-01-09
WHAT WOULD SHE DO?
Great Brft0n's Position IN Case of q
characterization Var.

To the Editor of The Tribune
ST.: THE New York Sum of Sunday, January
6. in an editorial article discussing the attitude
Of Great Britain in the event of war between
the United States and Japan. which again
forms the subject in to-days issue of that paper,
bases its arguments on an altogether erroneous
representation of the wording Of the treaty of
alliance between England and Japan. 1.-The
Sun" in its article of last Sunday claims that
Article of the treaty provides that:
Should either of the high contracting parties be
or special interests. the other party will at
will conduct the war in common and make peace
In mutual agreement with any power or powers in
Nolved in such
And then The Sun" goes to state that
it would be, of course, for each party to de-
fine what it considers to be its special IN
terests." and that among these Japan would
count the protection of the rights of its citi
zens sojourning in the United States-the rights
in question being, of course, those in connec-
ton with the troublesome school problem
the point at issue between Japan and America.
Now. the official version of Article 2 OF the
treaty between Great Britain and Japan signed
in London August -, 1905, differs consd-
eraby from that given in the article of THE
Sun" of last Sunday. The official version of
Article reads follows:
a=oton' = wherexer arising on the part OF any % 6tner
be involved in war in defence Of It's territorial
rights or special interests mentioned in the pre-
amble of this agreement, the other contracting
party will at once come to the assistance Of its
peace In mutual agreement with 1t.
From this 1t will be seen that "the special
interests" mentioned in Article q far from being
left. asserted by THE Sum-" to subsequent
definition by the respective parties to the agree
ment. expressly restricted to those
merated in the preamble of the treaty.
The preamble is follows:
The governments of Great Britain and Japan
euded between them On the Soth of January, 1902
ing artices Which have for their OBJECT:
(a) The consolidation and maintenance Of the
general peace in the regions Of Eastern Asia and
% Ths preservation Of the common Interests Of
end integrity Of the Chinese Empire and the ppn
indnstry G uaI Of all nations in China 'e
,(@, The maintenance Of the territorial rights Of
ern Asia and and Of india and the defence Of their
special interests in the said regions.
This concludes the preamble and its careful
perusal will show conclusively that the special
interests are confined to the Orient. and that
there is nothing either in Clause OF the Anglo
japanese treaty in the preamble or any
where else in that agreement which could be
possibly construed as obliging England to fur
nsh any support to Japan in her demand for
the protection of the rights of her citizens So
journing IN the United States
Only in the altogether improbable and incon-
ceivable eventualty of unprovoked invasion
OF Japan by the United States or Of American
injury Japans special interests in the said
regions" that is say in Eastern Asia and
India could the Mikado invoke the assistance OF
his ally under the terms OF the 1905 treaty Of
alliance We're II even to be demanded under
such circumstances IT is doubtful whether Eng
land would respond For the interests OF Great
Britain in America are too vast and the ties
of kinsmanship too strong to render the people
Of the mother country willing to jeopardlze
them for the sake of an alien race though an
allied power. EX-ATTACHE.
New York Jan. s, 1907