The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-31

Both London and Washington would hotly deny any intention on their part to deprive Japan of one whit of the world power she has wielded since her great victory over Russia in 1905. but Tokio knows per fectly well that an accord between Great Britain and the United States as to what shall be done in the Pa cific means that resistance on the part of Japan would be in vain. Noi Japan alone, but the entire world feels that out of the Washington conference may come an understand ing among the English-speaking peo- ples which would be resistless in it's power.
 Japan had scarcely recovered from the shock of her negotiations for q renewal of the Anglo Japanese treaty. when the new blow of the Washington barley fell Japanese emissaries went to London this spring little suspecting that there would be the slightest difficulty about the renewal of the alliance. There has been misapprehension m the United States as to the effect of this pact. Japan herself has never thought for a moment that in the event she should attack the United States, Great Britain would come to her assistance. The treaty has meant more than that to Japan. It has meant moral support to her in all that she has undertaken in the far east It has meant prestige among the great powers of the world. It has meant racial equality with one of the greatest peoples of the earth.
 sends "Snappy'' Notes
 Japan, as distinguished English visitor to this country recently ex" piained, has felt free to send rather 1x,rt c1,i ,if,Cr ton CD long as she was conscious of moral effect of the "so-called alliance" with Great Britain.
 So certain was Japan of renewal of the treaty that she sent her crown prince to England to lend eclat to. the proceedings; to show her supremes interest in the outcome of things. But, whatever may have been the original intentions of the British government. public opinion in Eng land and in the British dominions was found to be all against a contil- uance of the alliance on the old con ditions.
 The story is told that at the Brit ish empire conference the statement was made that if the treaty was re- newed in the old form, the Canadian Parliament might feel called upon to pass a resolution notifying tho mother country that Canada must be excepted from any operations. of rhe treaty. This would have amounted virtually to a declaration of inde- pendence by the great dominion to- the north of the United States.
 Out of Question
 The British prime minister, Lloyd George, was quick to see that re- newal of the treaty for definite period of time was out of the ques- ton, and so under the provision that the treaty could not be denounced in less than 12 months, it has been allowed to remain in force for the gear in question.
 Great Britian frankly put her un- willingness to renew the treaty on the old conditions on the ground that she would do nothing to cause the least uneasiness. on the part of the United States. Clearly then, in Jap anese eyes, it was American influence. even though that influence remained unspclxen, that prevented the renewal ofthe treaty which has meant so much to the Mikado and his people.
 Almost treading upon the heels Qf this untoward development, came the announcement of the Washington conference, not to discuss disarma- ment alone, as was expected, but to take up and settle far eastern questions as well. Tokia evidently was puzzled by the fact the ink on the invitation was scarcely dry before Great Britian joyously accepted. Japan beheld her ally in perfect agreement with Washington as to ,the discussion of all matters pertaining to the Pacific.
 T0kiO Government In n Plight
 It placed the Tokio government fn a plight. The Japanese did not like the idea of the conference at all. yet they could not stay out. To have done so would have brought world opinion solidly down upon them. As before stated, Japan sees national disaster in the sitting: but there would have been even greater dis aster in a refusal to take part.
 Some of the more distinguished Japanese statesmen declared Japan has been misunderstood these last lo or 11 years. and therefore, having come into the conference, 1t is likely they will make a notable effort al Washington to win back some Of the world sympathy which has been lost
 Japan will not be eclipsed without a struggle. She has asked that mat ters affecting two nations alone De scrupulously avoided at the confer ence This naturally would apply to pfoblsms with China.
 If the conference should insist In opening up these problems. Japan has placed herself in q position to of her differences with America re- garding California.
 That she has this purpose in mind is reliably reported here.