Evening star., 1921-11-18
BRITAIN STILL HELD
T. TO JAPANESE PACT
War Involving Third Nation
Would Find England on
: Side of Toxic.
MUST BE THRASHED OUT
Alliance First Made to Preserve
Balance Of Power and Safe
guard India.
MUST BE THRASHED OUT
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER-

BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER-
I am In a position to state 'authori-
tatively that despite the official reas-
surances given last December by the
British foreign Office, the United
States government considers on the
face of the known texts, that in case
of war between Japan and the United
States, involving-as it inevitably
would-some third nation, Britain, so
long as the present Anglo-Japanese
alliance continues in effect, is In honor
bound to go to the assistance of Japan
against the United States. This con-
sideration, as has perhaps been often
said, but not sufficiently realized, is
one Of the gravest matters that has
now to be thrashed out here in WASH
ington.
Motive to Oppose Russia.
The alliance was formed in 1902.
Britains motive was to keep Japan
from allying itself with Russia,
which, in turn. threatened India.
Under this treaty Britain, 30 to speak,
ancse war SO that no outside power
could interfere. The treaty was re-
vived in 1905 to conform to the
Japanese victory. Japan's special
rights in Korea were recognized by
Britain, and Britain's similar pre-
by Japan. The famous Younghusband
expedition into Tibet Immediately
followed. 1t is interesting to recall
that at this very time Mr.. Balfour.
now chief British delegate in WASH
ington. was British premier and Lord
DIE tah tdrvp IN q
was viceroy of India The names OF
Shantung and Tibet have recently
been connected more than once In the
Chinese press with the names of
Japan and Britain, respectively.
Renewed in 1911.
The treaty was again renewed In
1911, but this>-time with the proviso
that il Japan were at war with a
power with which Britain had con-
cluded a general arbitration treaty
Britain would be freed from the OBJ
legation to 60 to Japan's assistance.
Such a treaty was then being nego-
tiated between Britain and the Unit
ed States; but falling ratification by
the American Senate it has never
come into effect. This means. in the
words of Robert Young. writing in
| last July. that "if America and Japan
should come into armed conflict re-
garding far eastern disputes Britain
would be automatically involved"
sdr,ns In sePtsmber R;nn 1sds the Bryan
treaty" was duly ratified. It is not
general arbitration treaty, in the
sense specified in the Anglo-Japanese
alliance. it is said by persons famil-
lar with international law. Neverthe-
less Sir Edward Grey. then British
foreign minister. secretly notified
Japan that Britain would consider
this Bryan treaty as exempting Brit
ain from the obligations Of the An
glo-Japanese alliance in case of war
between Japan and the United States.
COnsolidntes Position I'm China.
Japan set out at once to "consoli-
date" its position in China while the
european powers were paralyzed by
the great war. There followed the
"twenty-one demands" and the Shan
ain, Japan. in 1916, entered upon a
| treaty with Russia, destined, prob
ably. in Japan's mind, to replace the
Anglo-Japanese alliance by an al
lance which would really be effec-
tive In case of war with the United
ever, Japan turned directly to the
United States, and the Lansing
1shii agreement resulted.
Meanwhile, the Anglo-Japanese al
lance, after being extremely unpop-
| u!ar in Japan, suddenly became pop
| ular again. In July, 1920, Japan and
Britain sent a joint note to the league
of nations, a note considered at the
time as denunciation of the alli-
ance, which therefore, unless mean
while renewed on modified terms,
should have expired in July, 1921. In
order to influence it's renewal. the
japanese, breaking with the tradition
of two thousand years. sent their
crown prince to- visit England, in the
spring of the present year. Soon
afterward, the British imperial con-
ference convened in London.
Favored Modified Renewal.
The most urgent question to be con-
!glo-Japanese alliance. The British
government favored renewal in a
modified form. but the doninions,
particularly Canada, demurred, fear
ing to offend the United States. In
this dilemma, the British government
suddenly discovered that the note to
the league of nations had not
amounted to denunciation. after all,
and that the treaty therefore was au-
tomatically prolonged. on the old
terms, The Washington conference
was already in sight.
Such is the story. Such Is the situ-
alton. A new chapter is to be written
here. Britain. desiring to preserve
the good will of both the United
States and Japan; proposes a triple
gives evidence Of being adverse to
binding itself by such a solution.
What will the outcome be?