15 JULY 1916, Page 2

This Agreement is an extension of those signed in 1907

and 19101 In 1907 Russia and Japan promised to respect each other's rights in so far as the exercise of them did no injury to the principle of equality of opportunity and to the integrity of China. The 1910 Agreement provided for the joint' improvement of the'railivays in 'Manchuria, and suggested Consultation in the event of the strati-Irv() in Manchuria being threatened. We thus see an ascending- scald of agreement between Russia and Japan. First they agreed upon peaceful enceineof eettling their ees-n disputes ; then they envisaged the principle of combined action against hostile influences Id Manchuria ; now they pledge themselves to combined action .against breakers of the peace anywhere-in-the Far East. A cardinal point in German- policy has been to make trouble for Russia in the -Far East. We may fairly -hope that the era in which Germany succeeded in doing this is ended for ever.