Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1902 — JOHN BULL AND THE MIKADO. [ARTICLE]

JOHN BULL AND THE MIKADO.

Powerful Alliance Between Great Britain and the Empire of Japan. The publication of the British-Japanese treaty probably occasioned as touch surprise among diplomats as when Lord Beaconsfield at the Berlin congress displayed before the eyes of the assembled ambassadors the treaty by which Turkey ceded tho island of Cyprus to Great Britain in exchange for the guaranty of the integrity of the Turkish empire. Lord Salisbury has never been addicted to sensationalism in international poll™ cies, but he has now given the British people something to talk about that will at least for the moment divert their minds from the Boer war. The Japanese treaty, if not a checkmate, is at least a very serious check to Russia’s designs in Manchuria and Corea. There will be no incorporation of Manchuria by Russia without a war of such magnitude that the nations of the earth might well quail at the prospect. That the treaty Is aimed at Russia niny be readily seen. The preamble declares that the sole purpose of Great Britain and Japan is to preserve the status quo and general policy in the extreme east. “Having in view, however, their especial interests, of which those of Great Britain lelate principally to China, while Japan, in addition to the interests she possesses in China, is interested in a peculiar degree politically, ns well as commercially and industrially, in Corea, the signatories recognise that it will be admissible for either of them to take such measures as may be indispensable in order to safeguard those interests, if They be threatened by the aggressive action of any other power, or by disturbances arising In China or Corea necessitating the intervention of either of the contracting parties for the protection of the lives and property of its subjects.” Now it is Russia that threatens Great Britain in China, and Japan Ln Corea. Japanese statesmen WUI not soon forget that it was Russian interference after the close of the Chinese war that prevented Japan from reaping the full fruits of its conquest. That memory still rankles. . The treaty further stipulates that if either party becomes Involved in a war with any nation, in defense of thedr le■pective interests, the other will maintain a strict neutrality, but if any other power or powers should join in hostilities against its ally, the other party will come to its assistance. It is without question a formidable alliance.