1. Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign 1574 Affairs, if the terms of the treaty arrangements between this country and Japan preclude the possibility of assistance to Japan in any conflict which might arise between that country and the United States of America; and if assurances on this point have been given to the American Government in connection with their consideration of their naval building programme?
§ Mr. KELLAWAY (Additional Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs)Article 4 of the Anglo-Japanese Agreement of 13th July, 1911, provides that
should either High Contracting Party conclude a Treaty of General Arbitration with a third Power, it is agreed that nothing in this agreement shall entail upon such contracting party an obligation to go to war with the Power with whom such Treaty of Arbitration is in force.At the time when the Agreement was under negotiation, a General Arbitration Treaty between this country and the United States of America was being concluded, and this circumstance inspired the adoption of the terminology of Article 4 by His Majesty's Government and the Japanese Government. As to the true spirit in which that Article was conceived, the Japanese Government have always entirely shared, and continue to share, the views of His Majesty's Government. The General Arbitration Treaty was not ratified by the United States Senate. Subsequently, however, on the 15th September, 1914, a Peace Commission Treaty was signed and duly ratified, under which, when all diplomatic methods of adjustment had failed, all disputes between the two countries of "any nature whatsoever other than those disputes the settlement of which is provided for," are to be referred to an Investigation Commission. The Peace Commission Treaty is not technically a General Arbitration Treaty, but their objects are the same. My hon. and gallant Friend will understand from my answer that our relations with Japan are so arranged as not to involve us in the possibility of conflict with the United States of America. As regards the second part of the question, no official communication has been made to the United States of America as there is no reason to believe that the responsible authorities are in any doubt as to the true position.