The Shepherd Boy and Foolish Ivan (5)

"...The Anglo-Japanese Alliance, an unexpected topic."

"Let me ask frankly. Does that alliance still have any value?"

In Witte's view, this alliance-that's-not-an-alliance, not even being a mutual defense treaty, had reached its end.

'The content itself assumes a war between Russia and Japan without outside intervention - would that even be possible from now on?'

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance isn't like the Franco-Russian Alliance where they directly fight together. When war breaks out, the allied country just indirectly supports by remaining neutral to prevent others from interfering.

"Even our empire is now forming a partnership and developing with Japan... will you renew the treaty every five years just for one possibility of a rematch that's unclear even whether - no, even if it will happen decades later?"

"...As the treaty hasn't ended yet, I too am unsure about its renewal."