The Washington herald., 1921-07-04
A Good Understanding
With America Essen.
tial, Says Shidehara- .
PEACE IN FAR EAST
AIM OF ALLIANCE
Ambassadors Statement
Follows Incidents Of
Negotiations.

Japan finally has spoken cfhctai-
Iy, in an effort TO east the mind OF
the United States regarding the sp-
plications of the Anglo-Japsnese al
lance. ...
In a statement issued by Baron
Shidehara. japanese ambassador TO
Washington, the ambassador de-
clares that 'by no stretch OF the
imagination can IL be honestly
stated that the alliance was ever de-
signed or remotely intended as an
instrument Of hostility or even de-
fense against the United States"
The statement, which was given
out last night, makes the pointed
observation that close Japanese re-
lations with both Great Britain and
America are not Incompatible, but
are even essential TO each other.
Hopes TO strenEthen Tics.
Japan" Shidehara asserted. lis
naturally anxious TO strengthen the
ties Of friendship and cooperation
between herself and the British en-
pire, which she regards as OF the
utmost Importance to the stability
of the Far East. At the same time
IL is the firm and fXed determins-
tion of Japan TO permit nothing 20
hamper her traditional relations Of
good will and understanding with
the United States. She is satisfied
that these two Affiliations are In
no way Incompatible but, on the
contrary, are Complementary and
even essential TO each other"
The ambassadors statement
which is the first Official interpre-
tation OF the present situation that
Japan has attempted, is considered
significant because of the incidents
which IL follows. Shidehara de-
clares. at the outset. that negotia-
tions looking to the renewal OF the
Anglo-Japanese pact have not yet
begun.
Eject Misrepresented-
TN the meantime" he adds "a
campaign seems TO be actively at
work incorporating the possible
effect OF the alliance upon the
United States"
Secretary Hughes made it plain,
"NNNe etos NAAeN AhAS bSN~
eminent was not being informed.
the status of the negotiations with
regard to America
At the same time, dominion rep
ference in London were insisting
that in the event Of the treaty's
renewal every precaution should be
taken to observe the interests Of
the United States.
Within .he past week, dispatches
from London have indicated that IL
the alliance were not renewed, Il
at least would be extended for an
other year.
Aims TO Preserve Peace
The aim Of the alliance, accord =
ing to Ambassador Shidehara. is
permanently to preserve and con-
solidRte the peace OF the Far East ="
Originally concluded in 1902, the
alliance was revised in 1911, when
a caluse was inserted providing that
If either nation should conclude a
treaty Of general arbitration with
a third power, nothing in the agree
mentwould obligate that nation 10
go to war with the power " ith which
such a treaty Of arbitration was in
force.
Any plan designed to remove pos
sibility Of an armed conflict between
the United States and England uas
agreeable to Japan, Shidehara points
out, and in 1911 negotiations were
In progress between London and
Washington for a general arbitra-
uon treaty.
Inspired by Same Policy.
The same policy inspires .Japan
! as strongly today as ever before, .
Shidehara says. Tt has not. in any
degree, been affected by the fact thst
the Anglo-American arbitration
treaty failed to secure the approval
Of the United States Senate"
1t is not necessary, he ADDS, to
consider whether the peace commits
sion treaty, signed and ratified ay
the United States and Britain in 1914,
should be construed as a general ar
bitraton treaty within the meaning
of the special provision Of the
Anglo-Japanese agreement.
For, apart from that questions
Shidehara continues. 1T was already
well understood at the time OF peso-
tiating the eNiI ing agreement that
the alliance should in no case be
directed against the United States. -
The Ambassador also denied. iu
his statement. that the alliance tends
TO encourage aggressive Japanese