Evening star., 1916-08-05
Nippon Politicians Explain the
Objects of Russo-Jap-
aneSe Alliance.
Is LIMITED IN ITS SCOPE
TO AFFAIRS IN FAR EAST
Maintains Peace in Asia and Blocks
German Attempt to Regain Foot
hold in China.
ice of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
TOXIC, July 10.-Three chief objects
are attained by the recently concluded
alliance between Japan and Russia. ac-
cording to the ideas of well informed
political circles in Japan.
The first is the mutual elimination of
the menace of hostilities between the
two empires which has existed for
more than half a century and which
was not completely eradicated by the
Russo-Iapanese war.
The second is the strengthening OF
each others hand in dealing with the
situation in China and the affiliation
of their special interests in that coun-
try and the far east generally.
The third is the relieving of Russia's
anxiety as to the protection OF her
rights and spheres of influence in the &,
far east and the consequent strength
ening of her power to concentrate on
the situation in the Balkans and In
Persia which she believes vitality to
concern her future.
Reciprocity Advocated.
AS to the third point, a leading
Japanese journal declared, voicinG an
opinion held by diplomats: "In return
for what Russia does for us we must
give Russia whole-hearted and vigor-
Gus assistance toward the realization
of her national hope of finding an
opening to the Mediterranean by way
of the Balkan peninsula.
The liveliest interest has been created
here by insstent assertions by the
japanese press that the new conven-
tion would contain secret clauses.
These declarations, which were es-
pecially emphasized before the conven-
ton was announced to the public.
caused considerable embarrassment to
the government. They were followed
by apparently inspired articles. declar-
ing that there was no truth in the
pretension of a secret arrangement.
When the text of the alliance was
published the foreign office took the
occasion to deny that secret clauses
existed.
Representative Japanese recognize
that the United States has real ana
altruistic interest in the conservation
of the integrity of China and practi-
cal interest in the maintenance OF the
policy of equal opportunity as guaran-
teed by the Takahira-Root agreement,
and they are manifesting great In
terest as to how the new alliance will
be received in America.
United States Rights Preserved
AS already cabled. the Japanese for
eien office told the correspondent of
the Associated Press that the conven-
tion was an adjunct of the alliance
with Great Britain based on the in
tegrity of China. and that the agree
ment with Russia would in no way af-
feet the trade interests OF the United
States.
China will necessarily remain open
economically to everybody" said a
prominent Japanese. I'VE Japanese
cannot conceive of the United States
l,~k
of Japan in the far east and conse-
quently cannot understand how the
alliance could affect America"
1T should be noted" the speaker
went on, that the alliance is limited
in it's scope to the far east and that
questions touching the two empires
which are outside the domain of this
part of the world would presumably
fall without the scope Of the alliance.
Again, it should be observed that the
word military does not appear in the
text. though military assistance might
perhaps be the outcome.
Primary Aim of Alliance.
"I suppose we must decide that GER
tain details of the convention have not
been announced, nevertheless I think
we should feel convinced that the pri-
mary aim of the alliance. aside from
the protection of mutual interests. is
the maintenance of a lasting peace in
eastern Asia and the blocking of Ger
man attempts to regain foothold in
China"
Pointing out that an agreement has
existed between Japan and France since
1907 based upon the independence and
integrity of China by which both coun-
tries mutually engage to support each
other for the maintenance of the Sc
curity and peace of China and their
respective territorial rights, Japanese
declare that the new alliance will oper-
ate as a sort of quadruple entente be-
tween Japan, Russia, England and
France, serving also link connect
ing the Anglo-Japanese alliance and
the Franco-Russian alliance"