The sun., 1914-08-18
The Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

The Anglo-Jdpanese Alliance.
The ultimatum Of Japan 10 Germany
Ia like that Of Austria to Servia in
that the demands were manifestly
drawn with the deliberate intention OF
making compliance impossible and war
certain The first thought IN every I'M
partial mind will he Of the outrageous
brutality Of this proceeding on the part
Of japan at time when the German
Empire is fighting for life against three
Of the greatest of the world Powers,
The second thought will he that Ger
many. In the hour Of her distress, is
reapinc what she sowed twenty years
ago when the Kaiser. for his own pur-
poses. stepped between the new young
Power Of the Far East and the fruits
of her victory over China.
What would have happened II Ger
many had not then earned the inplaca-
bic enmity OF Japan; The question is
of considerable interest 10 the people
of the United States. Whatever rea-
sons for deep concern there may be in
Japsns entry into the war Of the ma
tions as Germanys adversary, state
Of affairs with Germany and Japan al
lied and cooperating might be immeas-
urably worse for our prestige and pos
sessions in and beyond the Pacific,
The text ot the Anglo.Japanese
agreement of alliance of July l3, 1911,
renewing for ten years the earlier
agreement of August 10, 1905, is now
published. The intent of the pubica-
ton is to allay American apprehension
as to the possible attitude Of the Brit
ish Government. under the terms of the
alliance. in case of complications be
tween this country and Japan. The
provisions of the agreement are reas-
s,ring in this particular. 1t declares
IN Article ". that should either high
contracting party conclude treaty Of
arbitration with a third Power, 1t Is
agreed that nothing in this agreement
shall entail upon such contracting
party an obligation to go to war with
the Power with whom such treaty OF
arbitration Is in force" In plain Eng.
llsh, as we have such a treaty OF arbl-
alton with Great Britain, concluded
In August, 1911, there is nothing In the
Anglo-Japanese alliance agreement
which would oblige England to take
arms against us in Japan's interest in
case OF a clash between Japan and
ourselves
II there is truth in what Is some
times described as the talk of the
chancellerles, it has for some time
seemed 10 Teutonic diplomacy a deSira-
bic thing that Germany should replace
Great Britain as Japan's ally for the
purposes set forth in the Anglo-Japa-
nese agreement. Whether there were
actual attempts at Berlin to approach
Japan in this sense prior to her re.
newal of the alliance with England
three years ago is not written In open
history; nor can it he affirmed posi-.
lively that the hatred engendered in
1874 and so Strklngly manifested in
1914 was the bar to definite German
clan to supersede Great Britain in
Jspan's friendship.
1t Is not even worth while to specu.
late about this; the existing alliance
between England and Japan runs for
seven years more, England Is already
at war with Germany Japan, under
a meticulous construction of its dutle,
as an ally Of England for the malnte,
nance of peace and territorial rights in
csrern Asia and India, and likewise
The Independence and Integrity of the
Chinese Empire and equal opportuni,
ties for The commerce and industry Of
all nations in China" has practically
declared war on Germany. The osten
slole ground on which Japan proposes
to enter the general fight against Ger