The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-23
~. S. NO PARTY
TO ANCLO,JAP
NEGOTIATIONS
America .is n <fOffi.
cial Ignorance Of,
Pact ReneIDal.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1921.


Especial to Tho Argus.)
Washington, June 23.-Great
Britain has failed to take the
United States into her confidence in
the negotiations going on At London
and Toxic with respect to the re-
newal Of the Anglo-Japanese alii-
ance.
The department OF state deliber-
ately made a point of that fact to-
day in dispelling the rumors Of the
last few days which for one pur-
pose or another have sought to give
the impression that England was
hand and glove with the United
States and wasn't attempting any
thing that would possibly involve
the British on the side of the jap
anese in the event Of q Japanese
American war.
Indignantly Denies."
The Washington government
doesn't insist that Great Britain
is obliged to keep America inform
ed of the progress Of the negotia-
tions but it is Indignantly denied
that America is q party directly or
indirectly to the negotiations. The
United States government Is in Of
fetal ignorance not only as to the
negotiations for the renewal Of
the alliance but as to the exact
effect Of the present alliance on
the attitude of Great Britain to-
ward a possible conflict beween he
United States and Japan. The lat
est and only information available
to the department Of state con-
cerning the British attitude was
transmitted when the under secre-
tary for foreign affairs was asked
recently in the House Of Commons
whether the terms of the treaty ar
rangement between England and
Japan preclude the possibility Of
assistance to Japan In any con-
f1ict which might arise between that
country and the United States, and
If assurances on this point have
been given the American govern
ment in connection with its consid-
Grafton of a naval building pro-
gram"
The question was asked largely to
determine whether it would be
necessary for England to maintain
her large navy for a future emer-
gency of this kind and whether 1t
would be necessary for the United
States to keep on building big
navy because Of the excuse OF
possible conflict with Japan.
Former Pact Simple.
The answer publicly made in
parliament disclosed that the pres
ent Anglo-Japanese alliance which
was signed in 1911 and expires next
month simply provided that Grea,
Britain was not obliged to come To
the assistance Of Japan If the lat.
er got into a conflict with any
country with which England had a
general arbitration treaty" Al
that time the United States sen
ate had under consideration such
a treaty between England and
America but it failed of ratification
subsequently, however" de
clared the British under secretar,
of foreign affairs. who was speak
ing Of course in behalf Of the Brit
iyn government, "a peace commits
sion treaty was signed and dulA
ratified on the 18th Of September
l1914, known as the Bryan treaty.
under which, when all diplomatic
methods of adjustment had failed
disputes between the countries o
any nature whatsoever other thai
those disputes the settlement o
which is provided for are to b.
referred to an investigation com
mission. The peace commissio:
treaty is not technically a genera
arbitration treaty but their OBJ
jects are the same.
my honorable and gallant frien:
will understand from my answe
that our relations with Japan ar
so arranged as not to involve Amer
lea. As regards the second par
Of the question, no official commun
ication has been made to the Unit
ed States of America as there is n
reason to believe that the respons
ible authorities are in any doubt a
to the tue position"
Emphasize Bryan Treaty.
The foregoing declaration wa
made on March l Of this year an