El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-05-29
Japan Fishing For RenewaE
Of Alliance With England


has TO be answered before July 20.
After that date the Anglo-Japanese
alliance becomes terminable by either
party on u months notice An Of
fensive and defensive alliance that
runs like the lease Of a house is un-
thinkable. and it is certain that the
foreign offices Of the two countries
have already begun discussion Of the
question OF reneWal-and may have
answered It. though public opinion
has not yet been asked to apply the
rubber stamp"
Japanese opinion hopes that the
answer viii be yes" Even the lingo
newspapers that had so many hard
things TO say about England in 1916
are agreed on the need for renewal
The jeers and taunts OF the dark days
OF the war about the one sided nature
OF the alliance and its burdensome-
ness to Japan were merely the echo
OF the military party's cocksure ad-
miration Of Germany and their open
belief that Japan had put her money
onto the wrong horse.
Material Side Seen.
They need not be remembered for
ever. but Englishmen would be fools
II they forgot that the japanese take
an entirely realistic view OF such
commitments They judge the alli-
ence by its value 10 them, and they
viii not complain II Britain apply the
same criterion
The Anglo-Japanese alliance can
be a priceless safeguard 20 the peace
OF the far east IL in its renewal its
original purpose IS clearly brought
out namely:
The preservation Of the common
interest Of all powers In China by
insuring the Independence and integ-
rity Of the Chinese empire and the
principle Of equal opportunities for
the commerce and industry OF all
nations in China
War Did the Rest.
That Is now the only purpose left
for the alliance TO fulfill The war
has abolished its secondary purposes,
which were, first. the safeguarding
Of Japan and India from Russian ag-
Eression. and, second. the security Of
British interests in the far east when
the German danger required the con
centration Of the fleet in the North
sea
The common purpose Of England
and Japan now Is the preservation Of
the integrity OF China, so that inter
national rivalries shall not be trans
ferred TO Asia. and the special inter
est Of England is the preservation Of
the open door" OF China for our
trade.
Japan loyalty fulfilled her obliga-
tons under the alliance so far as
they related to her part in the war.
There is a difference Of opinion about
her policy in regard to China at the
time when her ally was engaged IN
the struggle with Germany.
In 1915, Japan presented TO Pekin
with the notorious q demands and
enforced compliance with 16 Of them
by an ultimatum- The alliance calls
for full and frank consultation" yet
the most significant OF these demands
we're deliberately concealed from
England
Secret Paets IN 1916.
In 1916 two agreements were con-
cluded between Japan and Russia,
one public and one secret The secret .
agreement. subsequently disclosed by
the Bolsheviks, was made without
the knowledge Of Great Britain Il
was certainly not directed against
EnEland-Amer1cans believe 1t was
aimed at them-but it engaged japan
and Russia in a common policy re-
Earding China without the krCwl-
edge Of Japan's ally. In 1918 Mill
tary convention was signed by Japan
and China the terms Of which have
not yet been disclosed
We're these steps taken during the
war. when England was engaged in a
life and death struggle, compatible
with the declared objects OF the An
alliance, and did they
fulfill Japan's obligation OF full and
frank consultation with her allyz
May Correct Errors.
What is Japau's real policy In I
Gilman Is II expressed in the actions I
Of her military party, which for two I
years controlled the government, or 4
in the words and pledges Of the al I
.iance2 Is domination her aim, or /
The open doOr"2
The renawal Of the alliance gives ]
Japan an opportunity Of reversing .
he mistakes her military party I
nav have led her into. a large part /
- al ~ aaHH
n China. The war has disillusioned I
hem about the mailed fist" method. /
The British foreign office has a 1
golden opportunity to obtain from /
Japan an explicit declaration Of her /
Inns in China