Nogales international., 1932-02-03
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Our S,Difter Circling OF The Edgs
OF The MaeLstrom In The Orient

Secretary Stimson appears to be determined to
bring the country into the Oriental situation III
fashion which will involve it IN a real war Gfea1
Britain and other countries whose rights are very
r1ch the same as ours in China, more circum-
spect If they have not already decided against inter-
yention they are at least, looking around
It is to be admitted that the course OF the Jan
anese at Shanghai is hghhanded, much more SO than
# was in the earlier Manchurlan situation up to ana
incudino the occupation Of Chinchow. we and 9TH
or powers have rights in Shanghai, which, though not
7cassarilv inperiled are being nterfered with The
Japanese claim that such interference IS necessary 10
the carving out of their aims The nations SO al
feced have the right to protest and it the lnterfer
ence is of such nature as to threaten their vital in
terests and they decide that the game is worth the
candle, they would be justified in going to war But
outside the United States and Geneva there IS no
disposition to go to lust for the prlnclple OF
the thing. Nations a rule, are not motlVated by
'pripciple"
Evidently Mr.. Stimson, even in this serious juno
ttlre, more deeply concerned over Japans disregard
Of the nine-power pact and the Kellogg treaty and
it's defiance Of the League of Nations than he IS over
the menace of any Of rights in China The course
of Japan it is true, deserves condemnation moral
grounds but we are not in position to take the lead
in condemnation. Great Britain and France any
other nation with treaty rights in Shanghai is in
better position.
We rather disqualified ourselves in the begin
ming Of the trouble when we began entering protests
In matter in which we had yet no concern and could
rot forsee that we would have any We protested as
an individual nation; we Joined in the protest of the
League Of Nations Shortly We "out-Leagued' the
League itself Our whole course toward Japan was
one Of futile but irritating naggng.
We offended not only in diplomatic notes which
The Japanese resented as lpudent but the state de
partnen ndulged in comment the situation before
selected group Of correspondents leaving to them
the Interpretation which in at least one case was
violent and unwamanted, but which the Japanese
We're justified III suppOsing to convey the sentiment
CT MT. EtimsOn. We are thus barred from approach
ing Japan in the Shanghai juncture, in a spirit of
Cancellation France or Great Britain or Italy might
do.
IL the Washington dispatches of Wednesday
some mention was made of possible naval display
presumably AnglO-American, in Chinese waters It
is quite unlikely that Great Britain would be repre-
sented in such hostile exhibit And we believe that
at first, the greater part Of it would consist Of Jap
anese warshps.
That We viii some time be embroed in a con-
Ehct Wlth Japan IS more generally believed now than
ever before. There in considerable element in jap
il not in victory in the strengthening of the position
Of Japan in the Pacific We on this side can con-
ceve Of other ultimate result than the crushing Of
Japan, though at a tremendous cost-an event not
reached IL unbroken series Of brilliant victories on
sea or land, but after many disastrous engagements
at the end Of 4 war; compared with which our part
III the world war would almost inconseQuential
There IS nothing to be said in justification Of the
course of Japan in China either in the earlier Man
cillflan operations at Shanghai We may only
slider whether our rights are being threatened as
to justify action that is almost certain to lead to
o War. (ArTZOna ReDublic)