Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-14

anu property OF It's SUBJECTS.
Would Maintain Neutrality.
The two governments agreed that
{ either ally should become Involved
With third power In defense OF
those rights, the other high contract.
ing party would maintain strict neu.
tra!ity and try to prevent other pow
cra from Joining hostilit!cs against
the involved ally. but that II any
other power OF powers entered the
war against the involved ally, the
other high contracting party would
go 20 its assistance. and the tive
would conduct the war in common
and make peace together.
EGch power undertook to enter Into
arrangements with other powers
prcjudiciaI to the interests described
in the agreement.
Great Britain and Japan had viewed
with extreme anxiety tho extension
OF Russion influence In the Far East.
which eventually led To the war be-
tween Japan ind Russia. and that
encroachinent by the empire Of the
Gar undoubtedly was the factor I'M
mediateIS productive OF the alliance
of 1902.
Agreement Rewritten In 1908.
The agreement was rewritten in
1905, its substance continuing about
the same, except that Great Britain
IN the new draft recognized measures
Japan might see fit to take In Korea,
and Japan recognized Great Britaip's
right to take such steps as might be
deemed necessary for the security OF
the Indian frontier.
Again In 1911. new agreement
was drafted replacing the former
ono. and this Is the agreement cur
rently In effect.
In substance rs did the preceding
agreements, the one In force states
its Object TO be general peace In the
regions OF Eastern Asia and India,
preservation of the common inter
eats of all the powers in China by
insuring the independence and inteS-
rity Of the Chinese government and
the open door" principle. ana main
tenance of the territorial rights OF
the contracting parties in the Far
East. with defense OF their special
interests.
II provides. as did the 1905 agree
ment Gin which point both offered
from the 1902 agrsemenD, that should
either power become involved In war
in defense OF It's territorial rights of
special interests by reason O! un-
provoked attack or aggressive ac-
ton" the other would at once go
to Its 1ssistanccl
Has Srw Exception.
However, the present agreement
stipu, ates an exception with regard
to military assistance, which neither
OF the preceding ones did, which is
highly important, as IL is the provi-
zion specifically inserted 10 satisfy
ne United states that Great Britain
| would not Join Japan in war against
this country. Article ". oi the
agreement, states:
Should either high contracting
party conclude a treaty OF general
arbitration with third power. IL is
| agreed that nothing In thls agree
ment shall entail upon such contract
ing party an obligation to go to war
with the power with whom such
treaty OF arbitration is in force"
Great Britain had negotiated a
treaty OF general arbitration with
,he United States, which. however.
.ai!cd OF ratification In the Senate.
But there is in force a limited treaty
OF arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain. which con-
tinues in effect until 1929.
But. as will be pointed out in more
detail below, il Is not the possibility
OF British assistance to Japan in
war against the United States. which
= untninkabIe. that is at the basis OF
american objection to the Anglo
Japanese alliance.
Britiah Opinion Divided.
The agreement of 1911 was TO he
in force for ten years. and that term
expired last July. Wncn the ,Inic
came for renewal, British opinion
vus dividau The dominion Prsniprs
were not unanimous. There was some
understanding of the feeling of the
United States.
Advantage was taken of 4 provisi n
OF the agreement under which. Ii
neither party gave notice within IL
year of the time OF termination OF
an intention of refusing renewal. the
covenant should continue in force
enc year otter the date of expiration
of the ten years. Thus the alliance
continues until next July, and by
that time both parties Will know
what the Washing ton conference has
accomplished.
f.ihera! sentiment in England wants
the alliance dropped haA!ng the de-
sire on a conviction il commits Great
britain TO too much of 4 militaristic
policy In the Far East. and another
that IL stands in the way OF closer
relationship with the United States
The Admiralty and mpcrialistic
forces want IL continued for military
reasons.
or tho dnininions. Australia, New
Zealand, and even India, regard Japan
as moro Of u menace than does evan
California II the alliance Is to DO