The Washington herald., 1921-11-21
ANTIWAR CLAUSE
ABSOLVES BRITAIN
IN JAPANESE PACT
Treaty Does Not Bind
Englan d to Shoulder
Arms on Tokyo Side.
BY WICKHAM STEED.
editor London TimcsD

In recent dispatch I pointed
out that American opinion is dis
posed to make the retention or
abrogation of the Anglo-Japanese
alliance test question OF the re-
ality of British goodwill toward the
United States. With all Difference
to American feelings, I urged that
this is not the most tasteful way
of putting the matter. and that the
future of the Anglo-Jspanese al
lance should be determined in the
light of the advantages or draw
backs which. from the standpoint
of the highest interests OF the Brit
ish Empire, its continuance might
involve Upon mature consideration.
the balance of advantages, which
includes the prospective influence
of the British Empire as whole
for the maintenance of peace in
the Pacific and throughout the
world. seems U added) clearly to
indicate the abrogation of the al
lance, irrespective OF any arrange
ment for the Limitation of arma-
ments, eminently benefcent though
sucn an arrangement would be as
an additional pledge of tranquility.
England ot Bound by Pact.
Notwithstanding this somewhat
pointed hint-which has been wide
ly reproduced in the United States
some well-known American writ
ers continue to force the issue of
the Arglo-Japanese alliance upon
public attention. One such writer
says: Il am in a position to state
n Arft itvA1 hat
cial reassurances given last De-
cember by the British foreign office.
the United States government con-
texts. that in case of war between
Japan and the United States, in
volving-as it inevitably would
some third nation. Britain, so long
as the present Anglo-Japanese al
lance continues in effect, is in
honor bound to go to the assistance
of Japan against the United States.
This consideration. as has per-
haps been often said, but not suffi-
ciently realized. is one of the
gravest matters that has now to
be threshed out here in Washing
ton"
Another writer. who obviously is
not out of touch with the views OF
some official quarters, suggests that
before entering into any agreement
for the Limitation of naval arma-
ments, the United States may ask
for the definite abandonment of the
Anglo-Japanese alliance. He ar
CUES that. for the United States to
pledge itself not to build warships
for ten years. and to leave the other
two naval powers bound together in
a defensive alliance. with their
combined navies approximately
double the naval forces Of the Unit
ed States, would scarcely be regard
ed as reasonable. The idea that
tripartite o-Japanese-Ameri
for the Anglo-Japanese alliance. he
administration, and
would probably never be ratified
by the Senate Interpreting the
in the Chinese memoran-
dunn to international commit
ments" affecting China which ought
to be examined by the conference.
the writer concludes that the
alliance is one of
the commitments referred to.
Explains England's Positien.
In view of this campaign. which
may tend to confuse American pub
lie opinion, or. IL it foreshadow OFF,
cial action, may create a delicate
it seems expedient to state
frankly the real position Of the Brit
ish Empire in regard to the Anglo
Japanese alliance. and thus to OBJ
viate the impression that pressure or
dictation from any foreign quarter
is requisite or that II could or wouiu
affect the decisions OF the peoples Of
the British Empire.
There are some facts in the later
history of the Anglo-Japanese alli-
ance which. even IL known to the
American State Department. are GER
tainly not appreciated by. the Amer
ican public. One such fact is. that.
in 1911. when viscount (then Sir
Edward) Grey was negotiating the
renewal of the alliance with Baron
Kato. the Japanese ambassador in
London he informed him that a
clause must be inserted removing
from the possible scope Of the alli-
apee any power with which the Brit
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