The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-04
ALLIANCE IS NOT
 THREAT ID J. s.
Japanese Ambassador Ex- plains Real Purpose of Pact
 With Great Britain
By Associated Press

Washington, July 3.-Baron Shide- hara, the Japanese ambassador. In 8 formal statement today, discussing Anglo-Japanese alliance. declares that
 by no stretch of the imagination can it be honestly stated that the alliance was ever designed or remotely in-
 tended as an instrument of hostility or even defense against the United States.
 Negotiations looking to the re- snewal of the Anglo-Japanes alliance have not yet begun" said the state ment. In the meantime, a campaign seems to be actively at work misrep- ting the possible effects of the alliance upon the United States. By
 no stretch of the imagination can 1t be honestly stated that the alliance
 was ever designed or remotely in- tended as an instrument of hostility or. even of defense against the United States.
 Is Twice Renewed
 The Anglo Japanese alliance, in it's history for nearly 20 years. has twice been renewed. In each case the fundamental policy underlying it has remained unchanged. It aims perma- nently to preserve and to consolidate the general peace of the far east. The original agreement of 1902, in line with that policy, was calculated to localize any war which might be forced upon either contracting party in defense of it's defined interests or vital security. It y-~s made when China was under menace or foreign aggression. and the United States showing the utmost friendliness to-
 ward both parties to the alliance viewed the compact with sympathy | and approval
 'In 1905, when the alliance was re- ] newed and revised to meet the changed conditions that followed the | Russo J Japanese war. no thought oc- | cured to the statesmen of eithel country that the United tSates nigh | possibly become a potential enemy | of either and for that reason. and that alone, no provision was inserted for taking so remote a contingenc, 1 into consideration.
 No War Obligation
 "The alliance was again revised 1 in 1911. and Article of that agree ment contains the following provi sions:
 l. >nQuiu ttliti III . NNbNi NN VI Ais party conclude treaty of genera | arbitration with third power. it il
 agreed that nothing in this agree ment shall entail upon such contract l ing party an obligation to go tt war with the power with whom sucf I treaty of arbitration is in force l "This provision, in it's relation t I the United States, has often beer made the subject of conflicting in terpretations To 8 practical mind however, the circumstances whicf lied up to it's inclusion should at once serve to remove all doubt rcgardinf Tits significance. The idea of revis l ing the alliance in 1911 was con 1 ceived primarily with the object Q I facilitating the negotiations whlci | were known to be then in progress
 between London and Washington fol the conclusion of general arbitra tion treaty. Neither Japan nor Grea
 Britain has ever contemplated. undel the alliance, any casus foederis pre- ! judicial or inimical to the inteEes l of the United States; and any piai l designed to remove the possibility o an armed conflict between thu United States and Great Britain wa of course agreeable to Japan. I was in pursuance of this policy tha
 the quoted provision of Article wal l adopted"