A.—2c

1902. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR: DESPATCH RELATIVE TO THE ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 23rd July, 1902. Ordered, "That there belaid before this House all documents and papers received from the Imperial Government in connection with the Anglo-Japanese Treaty."—(Mr. G. W. Russell.)

(Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 28th February, 1902. I have the honour to transmit to you, • for the information of your Government, a copy of a parliamentary paper containing an agreement between Great Britain and Japan, which was signed at London on the 30th January, 1902. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Despatch to His Majesty's Minister at TOkio fob warding Agreement between Great Britain and Japan op the 30th January, 1902. The Marquess op Lansdowne to Sir C. Mac Donald. Sir, — Foreign Office, 30th January, 1902. I have signed to-day, with the Japanese Minister, an agreement between Great Britain and Japan, of which a copy is enclosed in this despatch. This agreement may be regarded as the outcome of the events which have taken place during the last two years in the Ear Bast, and of the part taken by Great Britain and Japan in dealing with them. Throughout the troubles and complications which arose in China consequent upon the Boxer outbreak and the attack upon the Peking Legations the two Powers have been in close and uninterrupted communication, and have been actuated by similar views. We have each of us desired that the integrity and independence of the Chinese Empire should be preserved ; that there should be no disturbance of the territorial status quo either in China or in the adjoining regions ; that all nations should, within those regions, as well as within the limits of the Chinese Empire, be afforded equal opportunities for the development of their commerce and industry ; and that peace should not only be restored, but should, for the future, be maintained. From the frequent exchanges of views which have taken place between the two Governments, and from the discovery that their Far-Eastern policy was identical, it has resulted that each side has expressed the desire that their common policy should find expression in an international contract of binding validity. We have thought it desirable to record in the preamble of that instrument the main objects of our common policy in the Far East to which I have already referred, and in the first article we join in entirely disclaiming any aggressive tendencies either in China or Corea. We have, however, thought it necessary also to place on record the view entertained by bath the High Contracting Parties, that should their interests as above described be endangered it will be admissible for either of them to take such measures as may be indispensable in order to safeguard those interests, and words have been added which will render it clear that such precautionary measures might become necessary and might be legitimately taken not only in the case of aggressive action or of an actual attack by some other Power, but in the event of disturbances arising of a character to necessitate the intervention of either of the High Contracting Parties for the protection of the lives and property of its subjects. The principal obligations undertaken mutually by the High Contracting Parties are those of maintaining a strict neutrality in the event of either of them becoming involved in war, and of coming to one another's assistance in the event of either of them being confronted by the opposition of more than one hostile Power. Under the remaining provisions of the agreement the High Contracting Parties undertake that neither of them will, without consultation with the other, enter into separate arrangements with another Power to the prejudice of the interests described in the agreement, and that whenever those interests are in jeopardy they will communicate with one another fully and frankly. The concluding article has reference to the duration of the agreement, which, after five years, is terminable by either of the High Contracting Parties at one year's notice.