The Washington herald., 1907-05-12
JAPANIN NEWTREATY
Compact With France, TO Ex-
clusi0n Of Germany.
INsUREs FAR EAST STABILITY
England Has Understanding with
Oriental Ally by Which japanese
dizement War During Life of the
Treaty-Premiers Meet Refusal.

London. May 1.-Undl the advent of the
Spanish baby yesterday Europe had little
10 occupy public attention beyond an in
teresting series of developments, all hav-
ing direct or indirect bearing upon what
is beeoming@ year by year, more and more
the single world embracing factor known
as the political situation.
Even the much acclaimed heir to the
Spanish thrcne is part Of it. as witness
the prompt rise in Spanish IS on the news
OF his arrival So. too, We had sharp
decline in Consols a day or two earlier on
the sentimental significance of the dis
turbanoe at Lahore. on the fiftieth ami
versary Of the outbreak of the Indian
mutiny.
The news of Japan's diplomatic activity
is. however, the most important of the
week. Her impending agreement with
France, which, in connection with previous
treaties with Great Britain and Russia,
constitutes the establishment of the Mon
roe doctrine for the Far East, and amounts
to a general peace factor of greater value
than probable outcome of The Hague
Conference.
Thinks Kaiser VIII Be Heard From.
A few there are who see some cause
for apprehension in the marked ignoring
of Germany in this. as in all other inter
national compacts of recent making. A
japanese diplomat has taken the trouble
10 explain that there is no necessity for
consulting Germany, as she has no status
in the far East beyond a IeasehoId in
terest in Kiaochow.
Il cannot be doubted, however. that this
new move will add considerably to the
impotent irritation which exists st Berlin.
and which viii have a retaliatory EXPIRES
sion as soon as Emperor William is able
TO find or create an opportunity.
Great Britain, II should be noted, is
taking extraordinary pains 10 cultivate
stiu closer relations with her Far Eastern
ally. There are important reasons for
This. reasons which have an especial ih-
terest for the American people.
Tt is no secret that AT the time of the
agitation Of Japans protest against the
treatment of her subjects in California
Great Britain feared serious embarass-
ment as a consequence of the sweeping
terms Of her alliance in case the differ
ence between the United States and Japan
should lead 70 a rupture.
Il is the purpose of the British govern
ment 70 avoid the possibility of any such
dilemma arising ANY British ministry
knows that the obligation To make War
against America as a duty under a treaty
with a far Eastern power cannot be con-
templated for an instant yet such an OBJ
legation exists, or did exist six months
ago. 1t is not meant to be implied that
it has yet been technical cancelled, but
in effect it has. There has been a fun eX-
change Of views on the whole FAR Eastern
policy in the past few months, and the
visit of Prince Fushimi viii put the seal
upon an understanding which is already
complete.
Japan Not in Position 40 Fight.
The broad basis of this agreement is
that Japan will attempt no aggrandize-
ment Of her position during the existence
Of the present alliance with Great Brit
ain She will especially cultivate the
most friendly relations with the United
States. This in fact. she is already do
ing, and there is likely TO be definite evi-
denco thereof in the near future.
There is really no need Of these spe-
ciaI assurances of pacific Intentions on
Japan's part. Every one acquainted with
the internal condition Of Japan is well
aware that she is quite unprepared 10
enter upon any career Of adventure at
present. The Jananese peace protesta-
tions. in a word, are sincere, and no
change in her policy need be apprehended
within. say, the next eight years.
Another factor in the situation, equally
world wide, has been the weeks develop
ments in British imperial affairs. The
visiting premiers of British colonies hay
ing met with fiat refusal to their de-
mands for preferential trade with the
mother country, tried another tack. The
governments denial has been based oD
the country's verdict in favor of free
trade at least at the general election
Gen. BOtha Gets Most FavOrs.
The premiers bowed 70 this decree and
then voted unanimously, Gen. Botha, of
the Transvaal alone remaining silent, that
the home government should grant the
colonies a preferential tariff on imports
which already pay duty, such as tobacco.
wines tea, coffee. and sugar Il was
pointed out that this raised no new ques-
ton Of protection, but even on this point
the government returned an unqualified
refusal. The puhlic's response to the gov
ernment's action was emphatic. At a bye
election al Stepney the next day the
Unionist majority Of a year ago was
double.
Gen bothd mas peeu Lne man upon
whom the general public has lavished
favors in sharp distinction TO the other
premiers, His chief requests were above
all reason. as described in these dis
patches a fortnight ago. but those he re-
ceived were quite unprecedented. Chief
of these was "a government guarantee Of d
Transvaai loan of e5.000000 Never be-
fore has "A self-governing colony received
a pledge of the home governments credit
in this manner. Already Cape Colony
IS protesting loudly, or rather demanding
the same thing for itself, and it may safe
ly be said that the government Will turn
a deaf ear. The position which Prime
Minister Campben-Bannerman has thus
assumed cannot fail 10 be extremely en-
barrassing It may be his way of apol-
ogfzing in behalf OF Great Britain for
having conquered the Beers, but how can
he justify the refusal of a loyal British
colony In South Africa what he grants to
the late enemies of the empire?
Still, the present government seems 70
thrive upon inconsistencies, and nothing
of this nature surprises the country.