The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
SEEK MASTERY OF PACIFIC.
All Countries Glad Of Cruise of American Fleet
Around the World.
By Ex-AFTAcHE.

/ Striking as has been the object lesson
TO the world furnished by Uncle Sam, n
bringing, without the slightest trouble
and in record time. his big battle-ship
fleet from Hampton Roads through the
Straits OF Magellan. up TO the coast OF
California, that is to say. into that Pa
ci6c where foreign powers were Of the
opinion that he could not 5e nayally for
mjdable for a number Of years 10 come. a
stil greater sensation has been created
abroad by the announcement that the
/ feet in question after calling al Van
I couver. is to visit Japan and Australia.
and then. after spending some time at
Manila. to sail for Hampton Roads. via
the Suez Canal. touching AT var!ous
English sea ports en- route for the pur-
pose OF coaling.
Official assurances lave been repeatedly
given from both sides Of the Atlantic 10
the effect that no treaty OF alliance
exists between England and the United
States. And there is every reason TO be-
lieve these pronouncements. For when Il
becomes necessary 20 confirm an interna-
tional understanding by means Of writ
ten agreement OF alliance. it indicates
! that the arrangement is more or less ar
/ tifcial, and not wholly based on mutual
/ confidence and popular sentiment
written Treaty Implies Fear.
In fact. the very existence OF tho treaty
alliance implies a fear that one os the
contracting parties may fail to live Up 10
its obligations These obligations end By
being regarded. not as ties. but as bonds.
And bonds are never popular. since they
impair freedom That is why treaties Of
alliance seldom accomplish their object.
and instead Of promoting friendship be-
tween the two countries concerned. often
end in enmity Far more effective in the
interests of peace. and consequently Of
the trade and industry Of the world are
those unwritten understandings which
Fare based on community OF interests
political as well as economic. That an
understanding Of this kind exists be-
tween America and Great Britain. esDe-
ciaIly with that Greater Britain which
comprises King Edwards huge. self-gov-
erning dependencies known as the DOmin-
Ion OF Canada and the Commonwealth Of
Australia. has received another eloquent
demonstration by the announcement Of
the further itinerary OF the American
battle-ship feet after leaving san Fran
cisco.
II is OF vital Impotence to England, 70
; the United States. 70 Canada and more
especially TO Australia. ;hat the Pacific
Ocean should remain free from danger Of
mastery by any one maritime power.
There is one nation which. rightly or
wrongly. is credited with the determina-
tion Of securing the absolute mastery OF
the Pacific. namely. Japan.
Visit Is an IntimattOn.
The visit Of the American feet to the
Dominion and TO Australia, which have
the same dinieulties 10 contend with in
economic and immigration questions as
the United States. constitutes a quiet and
, friendly intimatlon TO the world at large
and 10 the Japanese people I'm particular
that Uncle sam declines to cOUntenance
, the idea OF any one power exercising a
mastery over the Pacific. and shat. No
I matter what the provisions OF the Anglo
4 japanese treaty Of alliance. Great Britain
J is al one with him in this object. bound
TO him in the matter by a community O
j interests. Far from being considered a.
an affrOnt by the sagaci0us ruler o'
Japan and BY the shrewd statesmen
such as, for instance, the Marquis Ito
E who are his principal and most trusted
: be welcomed by them. as destined L
i strengthen their hands in resisting II,
$ danger of popular Chauvinism- For wheT
= the japanese people see that their ambi
tiOns 10 become masters OF the Pacih'
D would encounter not weak but extremely
J. powerful resistance on the part OF III,
:, United States, supported in the matter b,
I Great Britain and by the good will G
most other European powers. they vii
abstain from harassing their government
Q and from attempting 20 force the latte
: into course which II is at considerable
n trouble and pains 10 repress
. Might Excite Jealous
T Under other circumstances. the mani
!. festation which is now about 10 tax,
= place Of an understanding between tn
!. two great English-speaking powers o
n the world would be likely 10 excite i'll vii
5 and jealousy on the part of other grea
= European nations. But in this particula
e instance there is no feeling of this kind
2 on the contrary, the demonstration meet
with as much approval in Berlin, il
n Paris. and in other European capitals a.
d il does in this country and in England
n For Germany, with her colonies OF KiaO
Y chau and New GuincA and her prospec
5 tive possession Of the Dutch East Indies
o Of Cochin-China and Tongking. hav
: everything 70 fear from a japanese mas
s tery Of the Pacific. and everything &
d gain from the curbing of the aspiration
: in this direction on the part Of Da
5 Nippon
V Nowhere has the course OF PreSiden
e Roosevelt in sending the American battle
ship fleet. first Of al TO San Francisco
e and then TO Australia. excited more gen
a uine satisfaction than in France. wher
2. both the government and che people ar
becoming more and more alarmed b.
: what is believed to be the designs o
d Japan upon their possessions in Easter
q Asia.
!, Japan-FraneO Treaty.
! True there Is a treaty between Japal
and France containing mutual pledge
S for the maintenance OF the statu quo i
the far Orient But despite this agree
= ment, which the French fondly imagine,
, at the outset would prove an effectua
n safeguard OF Tongking and Indo chin
y from any aggression by the Japanese. tn
; latter have descended upon these colonie
; in such numbers that they have acquire
control of nearly all of the trade and o
most Of the mining and other big indus
e tries of these dependencies upon whic
y France has expended such untold Quanti
g ties of her blood and treasure. Il is no
1t alone that the Japanese Swn all the prin
j. clpal trading and Industrial concerns i
n the country, having succeeded IN bestin
Il white competition and in driving out o
business all the former French, American
and German firms, but they are hkewis
IS Importing thousands upon thousands o
i the working classes Of their countrymer
II on the pretext that Annamite labor
St nnsstisfacto-v So completely have the