New-York tribune., 1917-07-16
Japan Red, White and Blue Book
Gives Reasons for Entering War
Document Is in Form Of Statement by Viscount kato
Foregn Minister in Okuma Cabinet-Shows
Advantages of Anglo Japanese Alliance
By ADACHI KlNNOSUKE

Japan COull eliminate neI from OnlHd
it meant good deal 20 Japan. Alto
gether, the benefit Japan will receive
from her participation in the war Is
far from being insignificant.
"1n spite OF this" Viscount kato de-
clares Indignantly, there is section
Of our public who subscribe TO the
doctrine Of omnipotent Germany. In
the excess of their alteration OF Ger
many they assumed, especially AZ the
beginning OF the war, that the German
victory was a foregone conclusion.
They concluded that Japan would be
placed in a position Of extreme diff
Guilty rs the result OF il. They de-
nounced the hasty conduct OF Japan in
joining the Entente Allies in the war.
But OF late, with the development OF
the war situation. they have lost inAu-
ence among the people. II is exceed
ingly. gratifying to the country that
they have"
Attacks Arglo-Japanese Critics
The viscount attacks the japanese
critics Of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
merclessly.
"ln our country there are people
who attempt all manner of arguments
against the hnglo-Japsnese Alliance"
he says. "Some Of them 90 so far as
20 denounce it as one-sided instru
ment which gives all the advantages
TO England and no benefit 70 Japan
whatever They advocate the abandon
ment of it, even. Nothing is more pre-
posterous than their attitude"
These people base their contentious
on two things. One of them is the
constant efforts OF the Britlshers liv-
ing in China in throttling and muir
dsring the japanese enterprises and
aspirations in China. And the other
is that the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
was originally called into existence be-
cause of hostile Russia. Now that
Russia is one of the Allies. the basic
necessity of the instrument hs dis
appeared.
We all know that a certain class OF
Britishers in China are ever ready TO
spread evil reports of the japanese
activities in China and that they are
always watching for the chance of in
juring the japanese interests there.
But they have not the slightest con-
nection with the home government.
And even if some OF them may have
something of social standing among
the Britishers in China, they are utter
nobodies among the real authors OF
/ England's destiny. Japan should be
only mindful of the attitude of the
British government and its leaders at
home.
In answer to the second contention,
that the Anglo-Japanese Alliance has
! lost its efficiency because OF the rad
ical change in the Russian relations,
the viscount points out that the diplo-
matte instrument is one CT the most
potent factors to-day in maintaining
the stable balance OF power in the Far
East.
Would Be Forced to Join Others
If Japan were to cut herself away
from Britain she would have TO join
some other nation and bring about a
, brand new combination. 1t is an ex-
ceedingly delicate and difficult task.
H. is uncalled for at present. More
over. the benefit of the present alli-
ance is mutual and immense. The al
lance saves England the enormous bur
den OF maintaining an adequate fleet OF
warships in the Pacific for the protec-
tion of her colonies. She can concen-
/ trate her naval might in her own horne
waters. This advantage she realizes
more than ever since the outbreak OF
the world war On the other hand,
japan can eliminate England from the
number of potential enemies. The
meaning of this on her naval pro-
eramme is tremendous. For with Brit
ain among her possible enemies Japan
will be under the imperative necessity
of increasing her navy to an enormous
extent-to an extent far beyond her
means. In this alone the benefit Of the
alliance is not modest.
Moreover" Viscount Kato goes on
10 ssv. "the reason Japan is recognized
by tie rest of the world even above her
actual power is largely due to the
Anglo japanese Alliance. IL IS
at once the hinge and the axle Of Japa-
nese diplomacy"