We believe it is generally understood that the Japanese Government would welcome a renewal, but we are strongly of opinion that should the British Foreign office meet the Japanese in their desire, the agreement should be redrafted' to cover emphatically, so that there can be no possible future misunderstanding, a definite agreement concerning equal trading opportunities for all in Manchuria as well as in all China, an understanding over trade marks, a cessation of casual loans to China, and, most important of all, some concrete proposal or complete understanding concerning the future of Tsingtao, and the return to China of Germany's rights now assumed by Japan over the province of Shantung.
Should a satisfactory solution be arrived at concerning these all important points we feel that China at least would not be aggrieved it an Anglo-Japanese Alliance were renewed upon some such definite terms, more particularly if it could be shown that it was advantageous We strongly maintain that any renewal of the Alliance should, as far as we are concerned in China, contain clauses beneficial alike to Great Britain, Japan and China. Unless such a line of action can be effected, the renewal of the lance would most assuredly be irritating to the patriotic feeling now fast growing in China. Great Britain has it in her power, if Japan is really desirous of renewing the Treaty, to prove once again her friendship towards China as well as to show China that Japan is not of such grasping nature as the student movement is apt to think.
Tar Onty Possisrr Connitions.
Under any other conditions the abrogation of the Alliance should be proceeded with, as, if the League of Nations means anything at all, (to which both Japan and ourselves are signatories), every advantage we now enjoy under the alliance will still be ours. For under it are we not both pledged to "respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all members of the League." It is true that China has not signed the Peace terms, but she has expressed her willingness to join the League of Nations, and, having signed the treaty' with Austria, could not be excluded, even if anyone wished to do so.
England, we feel certain, desires to see a united China, prosperity to her people and a complete cessation to all her internal turmoils and strife. We venture to think that the commercial interests of Japan desire the same end. Why therefore cannot the two nations come together with a mutually beneficial Alliance which in' the long run should prove equally beneficial to the trading community of China?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.