New-York tribune., 1921-01-02
Trade
Resents Pact
With Japan
Revolt of Far East Inter-
ests Against Renewal
of Alliance Added to,
Opposition in Colonies
By Arthur S. Draper

FROM me Trtbunc'S Europedn Bureau
Copyright. 1921, New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, Jan. 1.-The British Fos-
elgn Office is finding itself exceedingly
embarrassed by the growing hostility
of British traders in the Far East to
the glo-Japanese alliance and the
surprisingly sympathetic attitude s
sumed by the British dominions toward
America on the question of anti-Jap-
anese legislation. The government,
therefore, is looking forward to the
possibility of an international dis
armament conference which might, by
declaring Laval holiday, sweep away
all the friction involved.
The Tribune correspondent learns
that considerable pressure has been
brought to bear on the government
here by British Far Eastern traders
among whor the Anglo-Japanese alli-
ance is unpopular. When Lord Lans-
downe made that agreement with
Japan originally traders did not wicld
the influence with the government that
they do to-day, and neither did states
men appreciate the amount of hostility
toward the agreement that would arise
among Englishmcn in the Far East.
These traders are now telling the gov
crnment that the Japanese took ad-
vantage Of the treaty during the war
and that, as result, British trade has
suffered heavily in the last five wears.
These Eastern business men have
strong supporters here, and these have
taken the matter up in Downing Street
Modification Is Demanded
Even the proponents of the alliance
now admit that the agreement must be
amended if it is to be renewed this
year. All depends upon whether the
proposed disarmament conference is
ne I'd and the degree of its success. The
Britlsh government hopes that this con-
ference VII precede the meeting of Do
minlon premiers here in May.
When the report Of a proposed agree
ment by which Japanese immigration
would be permitted in the Philippines
reached London in the middle OF the
week several of the newspapers de-
clared that this step would be strongly
resented by Australia and Canada
After the brefest comment, nothing
further was published on the subject
There was no suggestion that the
United States had opened negotiations
with Australia on the Philippine pro-
posal
The weekly newspapers contain long
articles on the naval situation. support
rpnnroll,r tho Jo;1 ~ l..
laration that an Anglo-Japanese naval
alliance against the United States is
beyond the realm of possibility
Only handful of opponents of a
naval holiday can be found, but there
arc many who are opposed to terminal
ing the Arglo-Japanese alliance with
out obtaining some concessions from
the United States. Americas failure
to ratify the treaty Of Versailles, her
support and then desertion of the
League of Nations, made a bad i'm
preston here and Britons naturally are
chary about discarding one form Of
protection before being absolutely as
sured that they will have some other
Supremacy at Sea Made Issue
A tremendous amount Of stuff has
been published here about Americas
threat to British supremacy of the sea
and lot of it was considered mere
twaddle. The naval authorities here
are not asleep and they are sure thai
Britain's supremacy is certain yet for
years, especially as they contend that
the value of battleship is still ar
unsettled question.
The calm comment Of The New
Statesman really expresses the view Of
the average Englshman when it says
that Secretary Daniels's naval building
program seems to be based on " the
entirely fantastic assumption that it is
possible for Great Britain to bt
dragged by Japan into war against
America"
"Such q war" continues the news.
Continued on next paye)