New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-17
Japan Breaks In, Making the War
Worldwide.

Tho war which the aged Francis Joseph started
bv his foolhardy ultimatum 20 Serva has now
.r,rosd al around the world. Statesmen in Vienna
talked slibly about "localizing' the conflict But
their rashncss had already shut the door against
oscillation.
Austria Huncars., peremptory ultmatum TO
Sorvis ran out on July -. Within two weeks
from that date Germany and the Dual Monarchy
were at war with Russia France. Great Britain
Belgium. Scrvia. Montenegro and Portugal Now
rspan is getting into the fray. and there IS
.tronr probability that Greece, Rumania and even
Bulgaria may soon Join the allies, with a view TO
dividing up the rich territorial spoils likely TO be
wrested from Austria-Hungary.
The war now affects every continent British
,f-ic, supports Great Britain and French Africa
is being drawn on by the French for large con
,.nrents Of native troops. The German African
colonies are being seized by the forces Of the aleS'
In Asia the British and French dependencies are
,eo,tod Is we'll as Siberia. Kiao-chau, the Ger
man protectorate in China is in grave peril since
ovon were the British and French sQuadrons III
,si,,i, waters not strong enough 10 reduce u
Isnap.s land and naval forces are much more than
oousl 70 the task Japan has just served an uIr-
NAHUM on the German government demanding the
evacuation Of Kiao-chau by August %.
Australia has offered to raise troops for Brlush
Use in any quarter of the world. and the common
,..,t,.s varsbips have been put at Great Britains
disposal. on our own continent Canada is raising
.. force to he used in the allied campaign against
Germany. viennese diplomacy must no" looN
hack with dread on the worldwide condagrauon
which its pride and obstinacy kindled'
Iapans ultimatum to Germany is Iegret'aOIe
from every point Of view. There is no reason
o,, ,o think that it is welcome TO the British gov
,r,r,ert Great Britain does not need Japan
,.,,. IN, tho Far East. The German base in kiao-
..s.,, l. isolated. The naval and military force
which fl shelters is negligible It's capture can
l.ro only the vagest effect on the outcome oil
the struggle in Europe
1,rap is naturally eager to get into the war and
...r. large dividends on very small expenditure
n She can get rid Of the Germans at hiao-
,bs,, and either take over the concession herseH
.- Give IL back TO China she will have advanced
i- .r interest and satisfied one Of the chief aims
- hcr diplomacy. Japan hopes TO attain mastery
IN the Western Paclfc-or, at least. in the upper
half Of il. If she can get rid Of one European
naval power as colonizer in that neish0orhood
l,or problem is TO that extent simplifed.
The British.Japanese treaty Of alliance has to
DO strained considerably in order to let Japan par
,cipate in the war against Germany The second
section Of the treaty says
o If BY reason Of unprovoked attack or aggressive
.rtion wherever arising on the part OF an! PO"C "
lid IN War in defence Of its territorial rights or
.rcrisl interests mentioned above, ihc othei "'si
Extracting party viii at once come to the assistance
of its ally and will conduct the war ln common anu
make peace in mutual agreement win d"
II may easily be established that Germany by
invading Belgium and declaring war on Great
Rrtan was guilty Of aggressive action But it
il. FAR from clear that Great Britain is now en-
.ared i'm "a war i'm defence Of its territorial rights
and interests" i'm the part of the world covered by
the BritishJapanesc agreement The treaty
limits the territorial rights and interests defen
~iho by concerted action 90 the regions OF LdotcIu
Asia and India" Germany is not threatening
British security i'm that part Of the world except
I'm the most incidental way. Yet by going 10 Grea
Britain, aid Japan can not only make a show OF
oycrseucrous compliance with the spirit Of the
treaty but also play her own game Of politics in
tho Orient.
some services Of friendship are superfuous, aud
Japaus volunteering TO wrest Kiao-chau from
German control certainly fails in that category.
The japanese government is giving assurances all
around that the integrity Of China will be upheld.
Q, is bound 10 give such assurances. since the
BriiisnJapanese treaty also specifies as one Of SIS
purposes the preservation Of the common inter
c-ts of a the powers in China 10y insuring the in.
dependence and integrity Of the Chinese Empire
now the Chinese Republic and the principle OF
qqusl opportunities Tor the commerce aud in.
dustry Of an nations in China The mere cApul.
sion Of The Germans from Kiso-chau might not
greatly upset the present balance in China, espc-