The New York herald., 1921-07-24


Japanese would never act without
such permission.
Most Of the blame must probably
be assigned to England, for without
England's cordial support Japan
would never venture on such risky
step. We know that there has been
much discussion recently about the
renewal Of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance. With these discussions was
probably bound up the question OF
izing Japan to seize eastern Siberian
territory. Some months ago the En-
tente Governments refrained from
giving a decided answer to the Japa-
nese inquiries on this subject. But
they must have given decided answer
now, an answer in the affirmative.
Situation in India.
LET us examine the attitude Of the
land Is extremely interested in the
friendship of Japan. at least SO long
as Japan can be Of any use to
her. And Japan may be Of use
to Great Britain In case of a conflict
between the latter and the United
States on the question which Is sure to
arise between them sooner or later, the
hegemony Of the seas. Japan may also
be Of use to England to block the prog
ress of Bolshevjsm in Asia, and to land
troops II necessary in India in case
of a general insurrection there, with
which the scanty British garrison
could never cope. This may seem far
fetched, but nobody knows better than
the British rulers of India how weak
Is the English position in that coun-
try.
"A recent article by Sir Michael
ODwyer in the Fortnightly Revieto
made that weakness very clear. An
invasion Of India by the independent
Emir Of Afghanistan and the warlike
Mohammedan tribes Of the northwest
frontier. assisted by an uprising In
Hindustan itself, would in a few
months bring British rule to an end
from Cape Comorin to the Hindu Koosh.
English statesmen look a long way
ahead, and they altered the last YER
sion Of the Anglo-Japanese treaty so
as to insure Japanese assistance in
case of rising in India.
The new paragraph speaks only In
deed Of attacks by any outside Power
on British possessions in Asia, but as
an Indian mutiny would infallibly be
accompanied or followed by an In
vasion from Afghanistan, 1t comes to
the same thing.
Warning to America.
Meanwhile England would not be
averse to directing Japanese energies
against Siberia instead of against
southern Asia, where she will be called
IN only when 1t is absolutely neces-
sary. The French, too. will not be
sorry to see the Milkado's Government
busy in Vladivostok instead Of at Sal
gon; and moreover there Is always
they think, chance OF their getting
back through Semeroff and Ungern-
Sternberg .he money they lent Russia
and which Denekin and Kolchak failed
to get for them.
"It Is not clear what the role Of the
United States is. She has shown
distinct hostility toward Japanese am
bitions In the Pacific and she recently
asked inconvenient questions about the
Japanese occupation Of northern Sag
halien and about the exact time when
the Japs proposed to evacuate Siberia.
But on the other hand the extreme
hatred of the American bourgeoisie
for the Soviet Government of Russia
makes II possible that there is GER
tain amount Of encouragement among
some circles In the States for Japan's
new adventure in Siberia.
$50 far. at least. we have heard of
no protest by the American Govern
nent against the japanese seizure of
vladivostok and the iberian Pacific
coast. Perhaps they count on getting
Siberian sphere of influence from the
Japanese and sharing the spoils with
them. Perhaps they think the Japs
will give them Kamchatka concessions
on more advantageous terms than the
Soviet Government offered. We won
der IL there Is any connection between
this and Americas return TO Euro
pean affairs announced recently by
Mr.. Harvey in London. We have no
evidence whatever on this subject, but
II America has any undertaking with
the Japanese she may be perfectly
certain that the Japanese will sooner
or later swindle her. And she will de-
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