The Washington herald., 1920-07-12
LONDON LABOR IS
OPPOSED TO NEW
JAPANESE TREATY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
to be anti-American In any par:
tifuiar.
Important to United States.
This action by the Labor party Is
exceedingly important 10 the United
States and the British dominion be-
cause upon action by the British
government on Tuesday depends, to
an immeasurable degree. the future
Of Anglo-American relations In the
Far East. According 70 the present
Anglo-Japanese alliance, either
Great Britain or Japan must give
notice by the 18th Of denunciation
OF the treaty or 1t will continue in
force automatically, year by year.
The Labor party hopes by forcing
the debate in the commons on Mon
day to prevent the governments re-
pewal under any conditions.
An editorial in this weeks Spec
t:.tor. after considering the opinion
of America and the British eomin-
ions. says:
Our own view is that II is easy
to make out a case either for or
against renewal Of the treaty. If
we perceive Disadvantages tC the
British Empire. We also recognize
very solid advantages IN being able
to write on the Far East as vir-
tually safe from an Asiatic up
heaval
This Is. no doubt, a comfort;
vet We would add a word Of warn
ing against pressing too far the
doctrine Of asking japan TO keep
the seas fer us. We should lose
all moral authority II It were
known in the Far East that we lad
shifted our responsibility onto other
shoulders, and we must also re-
member that with all European ma.
val opposition gene from the. North
Sea our ships can patrol TIE Eat
ern seas as easily as any others.
America the Touchstone.
Tn the circumstances we want to
come to a conclusion not On the mere
verbal merits of the case as il may
be stated for and against a renewal
Of the treaty, but In the light of the
extraneous but Overwhelmingly i'm
portant consideration of what the
effect of the decision would be upon
our relations with the United States.
We need not have the least hesita-
Ition in expressing our feelings In
that way because comfortable rela-
Itions between America and Japan
are just as important for Japan as
the maintenance of friendship with
America is important for US.
"American friendship must be the
Itouchstone of our policy. We must
do nothing that would be considered
unfriendly or inconsiderate to Amer
lea because, in sober truth. co-opera-
tion between America and ourselves
which we are certain will develop
directly after the Presidential cleo
tion, whatever the result of that
election may be. is immeasurably the
best Instrument for keeping tie
world peaceful and safe that we are
ever likely TO have placed in our
hands.
Spirit of League.
IF we act with America we may
accomplish much in the world In the
with the letter of the league of ma
tions. without that help we shall
accomplish nothing.
NO doubt the Anglo-Japanese
treaty requires modification in de-
tail. We trust that the government
lis considering these notifications il
lit is the intention to renew the
treaty.
I'm the full lient of opinion from
America, as well as from the do
minions, we would much rather
abandon the Anglo-Japanese alliance
a year hence than forfeit the pros
pect of a fruitful fellowship with
America"
Copyright, 1890. by Public Ledger Coz