The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-12-01
America In the Far East

ht iCpOi leu treaty WITH Jdpdu Is
still perhaps unsigned. At any rate, it
has not reached the full publicity
stage, and yet no one doubts its con-
summation, largely on the lines al
ready Indicated
1t calls for a free Pacific, for dis
Chalmers of an aggressive design on
the part of either signatory power,
each to respect the traditional possess
sions of the other; for the independ-
ence and integrity of China, and for
an open door" in that country, and
for pledges each to the other to act
with mutual understanding" when
measures become necessary to pre-
serve the entity of China or an open
door therein.
The signing and ratification of the
treaty would remove all war clouds
hanging over the two countries. 1t
would rob Captain Hobson of a coed
share of his apprehensioas concerning
the yellow peril, and the out-and out
jingoes on the Pacific coast would be
driven out of the war-scare business
altogether.
The last clause of The reported
treaty scarcely puts US in a way to
become an ally of Japan. 1t really
does not contravene Washington's
farewell address, which was directed
against entangling alliances. lie
wanted a minimum of politics in for
eign commercial relations. He spoke
with reference to Europe, but the rise
of Japan to the world-power class
makes his warning as applicable to
the one as to the other We give his
closing words: IF we remain one peo-
pie under an efficient government the
period is not far off when we may defy
material injury; injury from external
annoyance; when we may take such
an attitude as will cause the neutrality
We may at any time resolve upon to
be scrupulously respected; when bel
ligerent nations, under the impossible
ity of making acquisitions upon us,
will not lightly hazard the giving US
provocation; when we may choose
peace or war, as our interest, guided
by justice, shall counsel"
The proposed treaty may be con
sidered an understanding rather than
an alliance, and yet it would morally
bind this country to have mutual UNI
Outstanding in an emergency in the
far east with Japan.
The basic principle of the proposed
conditions concerning Chinas indie
pendence and equal commercial privi-
leges amid her great population, This
is, and long has been, our policy in the
far east and in the Paciic, and it vii!
remain our policy, treaty or no treaty.
Why then should we not cooperate
with Japan in the maintenance of that
policy?
When the fifth section of The treaty
is made public it will be time to talk
about entangling alliances. There is
nothing entangling in carrying out our
own far eastern policies. rhe treaty
would be no departure from our own
policies. We would gain support for
those policies in the wide Pacific
ocean. Japan might lose by adopting
our policies-we certainly could not
Nor does the treaty call for the use of
more than peace methods--th COM
mon use of all peaceable means at the
disposal of the two countries.
There seems to be no reason what
ever why the treaty should not be
signed, ratified and fully lived up to
| by this country. Japan is generous aud
probably far-sighted r. lining up with
| this country The two countries would
| then control the wide Pacific ocean,
upon which both have frontages, and
to which both will soon have access
by means of the Panama canal
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