The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-04
VIII Fight Opposition of the
United States.
Leave No Stone Unturned to
Have British Pact Renewed.
DENIES ANTI AMERICANISM
Ambassador in Washington De-
cIares Stand of Toxic.
Secretary Hughes Not Satisfied
With Statements Made.

Washington. July 4.-That Japan
will leave no stone unturned 10 bring
about a renewal of the Anglo-Japan-
ese alliance, regardless of what the
American people may now think of
the pact, is the Interpretation being
given in diplomatic circles here to-
day to the statement of Japan's po-
sition made public by Baron Shide-
hara, the Japanese ambassador.
The Toxic government fully ap-
preciated the opposition in the
United States to the renewal of the
alliance and is labori-g under no il
lusions as to the effect of that op-
position upon the minds of British
statesmen, who are to decide whether
Great Britain is to underwrite Japan
ese foreign policies in the Far East
for another ten or so.
Denies Anti-Americanism.
Baron Shidehara frankly admits
the presence of an antagonistic in
f1uence in the United States. After
stating that negotiations looking to
the renewal of the alliance have not
yet begun, he said in his statement,
there seems to be a campaign 'act-
lively at work misrepresenting the
possible effect of the alliance upon
the United States" He then hastened
to assure the American people that
"by no stretch of the imagination can
it honestly be said that the alliance
was ever designed or remotely in
tended as an instrument of hostility,
or even defense, against the United
States.
Neither Japan nor Great Britain has
ever contemplated under the alliance,
he asserted, any Casus Foederis pre-
judicial to the interest of the United
States and he quoted from a speech
by Count Uchida, japanese foreign
minister. in support of this view
Hughes Not Satisfied.
Commenting upon this phase of the
out that the United States could not
be expected to regard as conclusive
any statements various officials of
various foreign government might
make thru the press and that Secre-
tary of State Hughes has recently
made it plain that no official assur-
ances have ever been given the United
States as to the scope of the proposed
alliance.
Considerable speculation exists here
as to why either Japan or Great Bri-
tain should be anxious to renew the
offensive and defensive alliance under
which they have co-operated since
1902. Both parties to the agreem ent
are members Of the League of Nations
and are, therefore. pledged to defend
each other against attack and are as
sured the support of all the other
members of the league.
Chinese Guarantee Superfluous.
One of the main purposes of the
Anglo-Japanese alliance, as stated in
the preamble, is to guarantee the in
dependence and integrity of China, but
i inasmuch as China is a member of the
league, any additional guarantees
would seem superfluous if the league
members are acting in good faith.
Considered from the point of view
of an offensive attack, it is pointed out
that the United States is the only
power in a position, even if it so
choose to attack either Japan or Great
Britain.
Another point made by Baron Shide-
hara which has apparently aroused
some difference of opinion is that re-
garding the effect of alliance in the
past upon China and other terri
tories of the Far East, the protection
of which was ostensibly the object OF
the alliance.
Pact Helped in Russ War.
Under the original pact of 1902,
Japan was able to fight Russia, safe
| in the knowledge that If any other
power came to the cars assistance,
| Great Britain you'd join forces with
Japan. One of the objectiyes of this
(
the independence of China and
Korea
Nevertheless, Japan was able. under
its terms, to establish a special
sphere of influence in Manchuria.
When the alliance was renewed In
1905. nothing was said of the inde-
pendence of Korea. On the contrary
the paramount political, military and
! economic interests of Japan in Korea
were recognized and in 1910, japan
| annexed Korea.
There is a tendency in some quar-
ters also to blame the Anglo-Japanese
alliance for the defeat OF the "oper
door, policy in Manchuria; the ex-
tension of the European war to chi
nese soil. thru the Japanese occupa-
ton of Shantung; the imposition upor
China by Japan OF the twenty-one de,
mands. and the secret agreements o.
japan with Great Britain, France
Italy and Russia in 1917, by which
those powers bound themselves TO sup
port in the peace conference Japan;
claims to Shantung and other terri
tories.