Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-20
NATIONAL INTEREST
RULES u. S. POLICY
Will Cooperate in Far East,
but Will Act on Own
Initiative.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

1t does not matter how battered the
League of Nations or the various peace
pactS come out OF the present Sino-
Japanese conflict, the attitude of the
United States will remain the same.
1t will maintain its complete freedom
of action and will take only such meas
ures as seem compatible with our ma
tional interests.
The Secretary of State and his ad-
with the other nations interested in
the Far Eastern situation. This CO.
operation, as In the past, will take the
shape of more or less drastic notes to
the Japanese government. 1t will con-
tinue to tell the Toxic government that
it disregards the solemn treaties which
1t had signed, but when 1t will come to
sanctions, the United States Govern
ment will act on its own initiative, re-
gardless Of what the diplomats gath
cred in Paris may want us to do. The
reason for this is that the only effectual
sanctions that can be taken against
Japan must take the form Of an eco
nomic boycott.
Would Work Both Ways.
Such a boycott would without any
doubt prove ruinous to Japan II the
United States were to apply it rigidly.
But. it is pointed out, the boycott
would work havoc with our already
tried business.
A few figures will clarity the situa-
ton further. The average imports
from Japan in the period '1921-1931
averaged $350,000 900 a year. Our ex-
ports to japan amounted in the same
period to an average of $250,000 900 a
year. In normal years we import
about 80 per cent OF our raw silks and
export about % per cent of our cotton.
There is no doubt that Japan's eco
nomic prosperity depends on what she
can produce for export. Of which silk
is by far the greatest national raw
article and cotton piece goods its
largest manufactured product.
1t may be safely said that an eco
nomic boycott which would prevent
Japan from receiving raw cotton for
her mills, and prevent her from selling
her raw silk would destroy her economi-
cally.
Other Side Of the Picture.
But the other side of the picture is
this. The United States is buying an
average of $400, 000, 900 worth of raw
silk every year of which rs per cent is
purchased from Japan. The silk manu-
facture is one of the important ones in
this country doing volume of business
OF several Dillon dollars every year. The
American cotton grower Is selling to the
Japanese mills about 100000 bales a
year or about % per cent of the total
exporting crop.
An economic boycott while extremely
harmful to Japan would prove to be
equally harmful to this country with
out working any comparable hardshipS
on the other signatories of the various
peace pacts who seem to want us to
join them in an economic boycott.
The administration IS naturally fully
aware of this, and since it must have
congressional consent to enforce boy
colt decreed by the Council of the
League of Nations in which we may be
invited to join, it will proceed with
utmost caution before it decides taking
any drastic steps. The Council of the
League realizes an economic boycott is
the only effective weapon which would
force the japanese people TO obey the
commands of the League. Whether the
League of Nations is willing to go ahead
without Americas cooperation Is ex-
tren1ely doubtful as it Is equally doubt
full that we would consent to join Eu-
rope in an economic boycott.