Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-14


we interpret the convention, as it was
announced. Japan and Russia have
only promised the mutual support
and defense of the status quo in the
far esat, and as regards the so-called
special rights and interests the pres
ent convention is not the first dec
laration of the kind. What consti-
tuted territorial rights and special in
terests in the far east of the two
countries is already we'll known and
understood by all western powers. As
interpreted in Great Britain and
France the new pact was devised by
Russia and Japan to protect their i'm
mense interests in China. 1t is a
strong reply to repeated German
overturcs for separate peace"
Needlessly Uneasy.
The Nichinichi expressed the opin-
ion that Americans who are dis
pleased with the failure OF Americas
diplomatic policy toward China since
the famous Knox proposal have been
made needlessly uneasy by the in
creasing friendship between Russia
aid Japan. 1t continued: 1T need
scarcely be said that whether the
German south Pacific islands remain
in Japan's hands or be kept by Ger
many after the war, there is prac-
'tically no difference, and Japan's sin
certify and ever unchanged good feel
ing towards America should cause no
uneasiness in that country We do
not and cannot believe that the wise
President Wilson and the intelligent
American public will be misguided
and take steps to interfere with China
affairs"
No official statement is forthcom-
ing concerning the number of years
for which the alliance is made. Ac-
cording to one non-official version
the term is ten years; according to
a9other, the pact is limitless as to
time, ceasing to exist only at the
will of one or both of the contract
ing powers.
Discounts Perry.
Presenting a historical sketch of
the relations between Japan and
Russia in the lecture column of the
Toxic Kokumin, premier Marquis
Okuma, developed his idea that it
was Russian envoy and not the
American, Commodore Perry, who
first knocked at the door of Japan.
When the Russian emissary came to
the shores of Japan about fifty years
before Perry, the Japanese nation,
declared the premier, began to realize
that the empire was beset with many
internal and external problems. He
continued: when a nation makes
progress in civilization, dangers must
IN any case accompany the progress.
Our path in the past was full of dam
gers. That we were able to go through
without encountering serious disasters
is due to the greatness of the authority
OF the emperor and to the grace OF
heaven. Japan, which was awakened
by Russia before awakened by Amer
lea, unfortunately had a war with Rus
STA. But that was the result OF mis-
understanding on the part of both
But since the conclusion
of the peace at Portsmouth we have
come to understand each other per-
fectly, to the great satisfaction OF
both the nations" The prime min
lster concluded:
when war broke out in Europe,
we entered the war by virtue of the
Anglo Japanese alliance. Our rela-
lions with Russia became all the
more friendly, and now we have CON
Guided new convention. We con-
graduate ourselves and Russia and
the world in the interest Of the peace
Of the Orient and the world in gen.
sral. The position of Japan in the
Orient will advance hereafter and
The new convention will be a great
help, together with the Anglo jap
lnese alliance, in promoting the peace
If the world. In Russia, after Alex
ander ! sent the envoy to Japan, |
here were Nicholas, Alexander II
md III, and now Nicholas II, who
III D.