Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1916-07-13
Jap-Russ Treaty
Menaces u. S.?
Deniedby Russia
Gar Gives Nippon Manchurian Rail
road and Part of
Saehalien.
BY James Gray, Washington Bureau
of Minneapolis journal.

BY James Gray, Washington Bureau
of Minneapolis journal.
Washington, ID, C.-The state de.
partment has been Officially Informed
by the foreign Office at Toxic that
the japanese government has con-
cluded a political and military can
vention with the Russian govern
ment. The announcement did not
state what the treaty contained fur
ther than that the object of its two
cardinal clauses is ito unity the ef-
forts of the two countries in main
tanning lasting and constant peace
in the far east
Throughout official circles and the
diplomatic corps the declaration oil
the signing Of the pact was consider
ed to be of great international i'm
portance and one likely to overbal-
ance any other result growing out of
the European war. That the docu-
ment was of great significance to the
United States in that it assured the
support of Russian arms in any con-
test arising between this country ard
the Toxic government over the "open
door" in China. officials were of a.
unanimous opinion.
Gives Japan Free Hand.
The treaty further points to the
suspension of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance in 1891. at the same time re-
vealing the fact that the Russian gov
ernment in giving Japan frs hand
in the Orient has again decided to
,confine her diplomacy 10 Constantin-
ople and Persia, the gateway to In
dia. Officials agreed that the treaty
was likely to cause a break between
the allied nations Immediately upon
THE conclusinn of the war and would
generally result in a wholesale foTma-
tion OF new treaties among European
nations in order to protect British
and French interests that are now
threatened III Asia.
AS outlined in unofficial dispatches
received by the state department, the
treaty states that:
Russia shall cede to Japan that sec
tion of the Manchurian railway be-
tween changcaSam and Ha.rbin.
Japan to Supply Arms
Japan shall supply Russia with
arms and amInunitions as long as the
war in Europe lasts.
Russia shall afford liberal treat
ment to Japanese residing and engag-
ed in business in eastern Siberia, az
well as in the railway zone of north
Manchuria.
Russia shall open tG international
commerce the harbor of Vladivostok
and shall not increase the armament
of the port to such an extent as would
cause apprehension on the part of
Japan.
Russia and Japan shall respect each
others interests in Manehuria and
Mongolia. Should disturbances arise.
in the Russian sphere OF influence in
these territories while Russia is en-
gagged in the war against Germany
and Austria, Japan shall, upon Rus
siaas request, undertake to pacify the
country
Russia shall cede to Japan the
northern half of the island of Sagha-I
lien, now in her control, in payment
for bills now outstanding between
the Russian government and Japan.
In case Japan is obliged to take
necessary steps to preserve peace
and the open door in China, Russia
shall not hinder the execution of such
measures. Should third power, or
powers, obstluct such measures, Rus
sia shall, upon a request from the
Japanese government, take common
action with Japan tending to the re-
noval of such distractions.
Jap Explanation Secuted.
Of1icials here took very little stock
in the statement made public by the
foreign Office in Toxic that the treaty
fin no wise affected" American trade
the Anglo-Japanese alliance in sup
port of their contentious.
Since the signing Of that alliancel
in 1902 the British government has
been called upon to rewrite the treaty
both in 1905 and 1911 because Of Jap
anese violations of its stated clauses. /
Only fear Of German aggressions IN
Europe, the officials stated, keptl
Great Britain from disavowing the i
Anglo Japanese alliance at the time |
The first two alliances recognized
the independence of China and Ko-
rea in 1910, while the Morocco Incl |
dent was under way, keeping the Eu- /
Topean powers busy at home, Jdpan
stepped over into Korea with her sol (
idiers and took control Of the govern.
ment in direct contradiction to the I
alliance, with Great Britain and the
MANY speeches of her statesmen pre-
1ceding the incident that Japan har-I
bors no designs in Korea or China. I"
4 AS the result of the twenty-one de-
mands In China a year ago, a direct
violation Of the British alliance sign-I
ed in 1911, officials here were of the
opinion that Great Britain would not
again form diplomatic partnership
with JaDan and that the close OF the I