New-York tribune., 1908-02-11
INSURES AGAINST WAR
The Anglo-Japanese Pact as. q
Safeguard.
London. February I.


,nent of 1906 with Japan he justified IT as
measure for preventing hostilities in the Far
East II was true that the original pact OF 1902
had not warded of the campaign between Rus
GIG and Japan: but It was also probable that IL
Rad restricted hostilities to those powers and to
that extent had been 8 safeguard Of peace. Il
there had been no Anglo-Japanese agreement
France might have been drawn into the COM
rljcations for the sake OF supporting her ally
The certainty that her fleet would be exposed
70 attack from England kept her out of the con-
sict in the East: and when the risks were most
serious there were the strongest possible mo-
-ives for improving the relations with the
strongest naval power. While it is an elastic
assumption that without the original Anglo
Japanese agreement both France and England
would have been dragged into the war over
Nauchu-ia, IT is a reasonable inference that the
movement for the entente cordiale headed by
King Edward stimulated by the risks OF a
second conflict in Western Europe over sea
power.
When the convention. which had limited the
war in the East, If it had not prevented it, was
revised in September, 1906. the diplomacy was
.5escribed as entirely pacific. In place of pact
sDperating 10 keep third and fourth powers out
ri the theatre OF hOstilities, there con-
sention for restraining the martial ardOr Of
tirs- and second powers. That was the supreme
.endsd that it was something more than in
eursnoe -olicy against Russian aggression on
-he Indian frontier or against Corea and Man.
rhr-5a OF disturbance IN China from any source.
They regarded IL as q genuine concordat for en-
f,-rfnr peace in India and Eastern Asia and
,reventirg the outbreak of war. II half that
MS said about II two three years ago
t-71e. it was more effective peace measure than
the most complex arrangements for arbitration
~ fcas9
Et The Hague
There IS one fact which seems TO impair pub
liz faith II the efficiency OF this and other dip
Ior1a1ic safeguards against war. This IS the
continuous increase Of naval arraaments- The
Russian navy has been destroyed; cordial re-
1stious have been restored with France; blue
srster ulartinets have 10 invent imaginary
and fantastic combination between America and
Germany in order 10 obtain two-nation stand
srd 10 be surpassed by the British Admiralty;
India has been secured against intrigue and
aggression; and war has been absolutely pre-
vented IN Eastern Asia by the Anglo-Japanese
agreement. The world could hardly be moro
s,eaceable than it is. and British prestige was
never greater than under the reign Of Edward
the Pzciica1or. Yet so little faith has q liberal
Eovernrnent il these various policies OF insur-
tuce against war that it does not venture to re-
luce naval armaments Sea power must be
mad
.ecessary as rerrenchTnent may be when in
cone tax payers are overwhelmed with war time
burdens and social reforms are 10 be financed
bv hook OF by crook under the free trade sys-
ten Il this be done in the green tree Of Rad
icalis1n what is to happen in the dry tree OF
Tariff Reform Unionism?
Skepticisrn also increases when the policy OF
.nguring against war risks is easily and so
constantly misunderstood in the colonies
When Sir Wilfrid Laurier has attended imperial
conferences in London he has been eloquent and
emphatic IN refusing TO allow Canada TO be
drawn into what ne described as ''the maelstrom
a European arrnaments''; but when il is neces-
ssry To hiring strong pressure to bear upon Brit
ish Columbia how easy and convenient It is for
hin 70 magnify the risks Of war for the mastery
of the Pacific In place Of the magic working
concordat which was idealized two years ago
ns an absolute safeguard against war, he speaks
or1.aousy Of an eEtangling alliance with Japan
offensive as well as defensive. which is likely 10
bring into Vancouver fleets under two flags for
operations against q common enemy" and for
the protection Of British interests in the Pacifc
How violently out Of tune with the optimism
which has been prevailing about the pact for
seace is this war talk from Ottawa!
Fortunately the text Of the revised agreement
has not been altered, although II has been for-
gotten by colonial prenliers. There is a preaT1l-
he reciting the objects for which the COALITION
was formed. and that does not bear out the
assumption that Vancouver VIII be converted
into z naval base for operations against "A COM
mon enemy" Il Japan be suddenly involved IN
var Tie alliance has been formed for the
maintenance of peace and territorial rights In
India and Japan and for the protection Of the
Common interests OF all the powers IN emma
through the preservation OF its integrity ana IN
dependence and Of the principle Of equal oppor-
turities for commerce and industries. II IS
when these rights or interests are in jeopardy
that the two governments VIII take counsel IoF
mutual defence II IS when one or the other OF
The contracting powers is compelled by unpro-
Toked attack or aggressive action 10 go 10 war
Il defence OF the territorial rights and speclaI
interests II Asia specifically mentioned IN the
convention that its ally is under obhgatlon 10
join forces with il against the common enemy
When the agreement is closely scrutlrlzeo us
r1ai character as an instrument OF rational
peace Is clearly and Enthusiastically disclosed
TIE optinists sxere wiser when the text was
frs given to the world as a guarantee against
aggressive warfare il Eastern Asia and 4hola
Than the pessiulists, who now croak about en-
tsngllnE alliances and convert Vancouver lnlo
naval rendezvous for coalition arnlaoa
Rgsirst imaginary disrurbers Of the worlds
peace The risks OF war are diminished by the
Angio-Jafanese coalition. even IL the naval mar
tinets do not appear 10 understand It. but are
Pumping for Dreadnoughts and conJuTing win
fTo-nation standards. i ~ r