Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 329

TREATY OF ALLIANCE WITH GREAT BRITAIN

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general peace and security to amend the said Agreement and adapt it to the changed conditions, have agreed upon the following stipulations in the place of the said Agreement, which have the same objects as the present Agreement, that is to

say:-

A. The consolidation and maintenance of the general peace in the regions of Eastern Asia and of India ;

B. The preservation of the common interests of all Powers in China by insur- ing the independence and integrity of the Chinese Empire and the principle of equal opportunities for the commerce and industry of all nations in China;

C. The maintenance of the territorial rights of the high contracting parties in the regions of Eastern Asia and of India, and the defence of their special interests in the said regions :-

Art. I.-It is agreed that whenever, in the opinion of either Great Britain or Japan, any of the rights and interests referred to in the Preamble of this Agreement are in jeopardy, the two Governments will communicate with one another fully and frankly, and will consider in common the measures which should be taken to safeguard those menaced rights or interests.

Art. II.-If by reason of unprovoked attack or aggressive action, wherever aris- ing, on the part of any other Power or Powers either contracting party should be involved in war in defence of its territorial rights or special interests mentioned in the Preamble of this Agreement, the other contracting party will at once come to the assistance of its ally, and will conduct the war in common, and make peace in mutual agreement with it.

Art. III. It is agreed that either of the high contracting parties shall not make any Agreement with a third party which is or may be prejudicial to the objects re- ferred to in the Preamble of this Agreement, without consulting the other.

Art. IV. When either of the high contracting parties has concluded a compre- hensive Arbitration Treaty with a third party, this Agreement shall exempt the said high contracting parties from any obligation to go to war with the third party during the time the said Arbitration Treaty may remain in force.

Art. V. The conditions under which armed assistance shall be afforded by either Power to the other in the circumstances mentioned in the present Agreement, and the means by which such assistance is to be made available, will be arranged by the Naval and Military authorities of the contracting parties, who will from time to time con- sult one another fully and freely upon all questions of mutual interest.

Art. VI. The present Agreement shall come into effect immediately after the date of its signature and remain in force for ten years from that date.

In case neither of the high contracting parties should have notified twelve months before the expiration of the said ten years the intention of terminating it, it shall remain binding until the expiration of one year from the day on which either of the high contracting parties shall have denounced it. But if, when the date fixed for its expiration arrives, either ally is actually engaged in war, the alliance shall, ipso - facto, continue until peace is concluded.

In faith whereof the Undersigned, duly authorised by their respective Govern-- ments, have signed this Agreement and have affixed thereto their seals.

Done in duplicate at London, the 13th day of July, 1911.

His

[L.S.] GREY,

Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

L.S.] KATO TAKAAKI,

Envoy Extraordinary and Mini-ter Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan at the Court of St. James.

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