Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-08
| Proposed Anglo
Jap Pact of Much
Concern to America
(Ry Col. Winfield Jones.)


Washington. D. CT Dec. T.
Especially. England and Japan are
now negotiating for renewal OF the
Anglo-Japanese treaty. The negotia-
lions are a matter Of deep concern to
the people and government of the
United States. This is especially so
in view of the delicate situation exist
ing between the United States and
Japan over the California anti-alien
legislation. decided upon by the peo-
pie of California in referendum in
the November elections.
The Anglo-Japanese original agree
ment was never made public in all its
clauses. though reports were printed
from time to time purporting to give
the details Of the treaty. No doubt
when the present negotiations are I'm
ished and a new treaty is signed the
most important clauses will again be
kept secret. Or il anything is made
public the secret part of the agree
ment will never be known except at
Downing Street and at the foreign
Office in Tokyo.
During the Paris Peace Conference
ASNSialAOhS WCAS iAuoC VI oCtCA hA@ So
cret treaties and agreements between
nations participating in that fiasco.
which made President Wilson's IA
nous declaration of "open covenants
openly arrived at" mockery and .
byword among the more Sophisticated
diplomatic of Europe. all Of whom
were striving for advantage for their
respective countries. and none secretly
caring anything for the interests of
the United States. The biggest expose
at Paris related to the secret agree
ment Japan had with China, had
forced on the helpless Chinese Repub-
lican government. This was exploded
by the Chinese plenipotentiaries in
Paris and created very unfavorable
impression throughout the world re-
garding Japan's duplicity and grasp
ing and tyrannical methods in the
Far East. The Shantung Agreement
is the example referred to. This So
called treaty, wrung from PROSTATE
China by the threats of Japan, was a
good example of the cynical. warlike,
and imperialistic Nipponese spirit and
plans. Though the dark scheme was
exposed to the light Of day the Japan
csc nevertheless refused to abrogate
the agreement taken by force from
China, and unblushingly insisted on
fulfillment of the treaty. despite the
frowns Of representatives of every
other nation at the peace table.
But the Shantung expose at Paris
had one result that the scheming
Japanese probably did not foresee. 1t
turned the light on Japanese diplo-
macy and policies in the Far Fast. and
aroused a deep feeling of resentment
and alarm on the part of European ma
tons and the United States. This
feeling has more than overbalanced the
advantage gained by Japan in the
Shantung. robbery.
One result of the Paris expose has
been to turn critical public opinion
in the United States upon renewal OF
the Anglo-Japanese pact. Had the
Shantung outrage not been brought to
light at Paris it is probable that the
United States and European nations
would now be paying little or no at
tentiol to the negotiations for renewal
of the ADglo-Japanese pact. The ne
gotiations are now being closely
watched at Washington and also in
European capitals.
What Washington wants to know Is
only one major thing. Will the new
treaty bind England to come to- the
assistance of her ally Japan if war
OCCURS between the T'nitnd States and
Japan. Any such treaty should be
ample cause for immediate and strong
protests on the part of the United
States to London. If such a treaty is
signed the United States. in view of
the threatening Far Eas:N situation,
can nave recourse to only one thing
an agreement with france and possibly
Germany for mutual aid in event of
war with Japan, IN event England
should assist Japan.
To many minds it is of course I'M
,thinkaple that England would active
ly support Japan in a war against the
United States, especially as it was the
United States that saved the British
armies in France when the German
legions had the British forces. as &C.
knowledged by Field Marshal Haig.
with their backs to the wall" 1t is
now we'll agreed by strategists and
historians that the German armies
had Britain by the throat and would
have strangled her in Continental Eu-
rope. along with France. if the United
States had not interviewed at the criti-
cal moment. despite Englands con-
troll of the oceans of the world. Had
it not been for the invincible Ameri-
can doughboy there might we'll be to-
day no British Empire. Despite this
fact, however, it is not improbable
that England might, in the pending
negotiations. agree TO act as Japans
ally in event Japan went to war with
the United States. Such an act of un-
paralielcd insratitude would he incopl-
prnh~ns'' 49,
minds. but stranger things have hap
peneu III the cou.-.- - -
times in the past nations OF the same
blood have fought each other
Observers Of the situation here be-
lieve that the English people would in
dignantly repudiate any such alliance
with yellow race, and that no British
ministry could maintain itself under
such a load. A treaty of the kind
mentioned. by force of British public
opinion. II an attempt should be made
to enforce it, would be no more than
q scrap of paper" when the British
public learned of 1t, in the opinion of
the Washington diplomats and con-
gressmen.