The New York herald., 1921-07-08
Anglo-Japonese Alliance
Clashes With League.
By the Associated Prsss.


LONDON. July THE Prime MIN
lister. Mr.. Lloyd George. stated In the
House of Commons to-day that he was
fairly hopeful OF being in a position TO
make a statement concerning the
Anglo Japanese treaty on Monday
next. He added. however. that such
a statement would depend on the re-
plies received from the United States
and China.
A premature declaration, Mr.. Lloyd
George asserted. would interfere with
the success of the negotiations now In
progress.
Despite the decision OF Lord Birken-
head, the Lord Chancellor. that the
Anglo-Japanese treaty will remain in
force until twelve months after such
time as the Foreign Office may serve
notice of its desire to denounce IL. Pre-
mier Meighan of Canada and other op-
ponents of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance in the conference OF Premiers
are unwilling to let the question rest.
1t is understood they have determined
to bring the matter up again some
time next week and are confident that
as a result Of the representations they
propose making steps will be taken
toward giving the twelve months no.
tice OF the termination of the treaty.
The ground upon which it is believed
they will base their case Is that the
Chancellor's explanation ignores the
crucial point in the whole matter. Arti-
Gle Xxx. of the League of Nations cove
nant Under this article members OF
the league agree the covenant rs ac-
cepted as abrogating all obligations or
understandings inter Sc which are In
consistent with the terms thereof" and
undertake to adopt immediate steps"
to procure their release from any obli-
cations inconsistent with the terms OF
the covenant which they may have
undertaken before becoming members
of the League OF Nations.
The Foreign Office. in a note signed
by Lord Curzon himself. admitted last
July that the Anelo-Japanesc treaty
was not wholly in accord with the
League of Nations covenant. and that
consequently both the United King
dom and Japan were under obligation
to revise it. While Premiers Meighen
and Smuts and other opponents Of the
alliance admit that technically II is
possible to maintain Lord Curzon's
note did not formally denounce the
treaty, and that therefore II remains
in operation until the necessary years
notice Of its termination Is given, they
nevertheless maintain IL Is perfectly
clear that both Great Britain and
Japan are under absolute obligation to
revise the terms of the treaty so as to
bring Il into harmony with the leagues
covenant and that notice OF termina-
ton of the treaty should according be
given Immediately.
When Lord Birkenhead first gave
his opinion that Lord Curzon's note
did rot constitute denunciation and
that the treaty would therefore con-
tinue in force, there seemed TO be a
disposition to let the question stand
pending efforts to have a disarmament
conference on the Pacific. Opponents
of the alliance, however appear to
have arrived at the conclusion that
with the treaty In force II will be
much more difficult to bring about the
conference than would be the case IL
Great Britain and japan showed good
faith by taking a step toward the
treaty's termination. Hence the de-
termination TO urge the notice OF alb
-,.,,t,o,, uithout further delay