rts of the
more important European nations. This soon was felt by the Japanese
as an intrusion on their sovereignty. In 1899 treaties which had
been arranged during the preceding years between Japan and these
countries abolishing the consular courts went into effect. Greater
and greater became Japan's influence in the Far East. The
superiority of its armies over the Chinese forces during the short
war of 1894-1895, the apparently wonderful adaptability of the
Japanese, their equally wonderfully rapid progress along commercial
and scientific lines soon made Japan a desirable ally.

As many times before in history Great Britain's statesmen showed
greater foresight than those of other countries. In 1902 they
arranged an alliance between their country and Japan which more than
offset the Franco-Russo-German bloc of 1895. It was signed at London
in August, 1905, by Lord Lansdowne and Count Hayastu and provided
for: (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 insuring 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 defense of their special interests in the said regions. If the
rights and interests referred to above are in jeopardy, the two
governments will communicate with one another fully and frankly as
to the measures which should be taken to safeguard those menaced
rights or interests, and will act in common in case of unprovoked
attack or aggressive action, wherever arising, or the attack or
aggressive action, whenever arising, on the part of any other power
or powers.

This agreement was modified in 1911 to fit the changed conditions in
China and a new article was added which provided 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 same time it was arranged that the alliance should
remain in force for ten years and "unless denounced twelve months
before the expiration of the said ten years, it will remain binding
until the