The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-09-08
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
By FRANK P. LITSCHERT

One bit of satisfactory news which
may have escaped great many peo-
pie in their concentration on the po-
litical campaign now being waged in
America is that which came from
Tokyo the other day to the effect that
Vice Admiral Nomura, of the Japan
csc navy, would sail next month from
Yokohama on a good will mission to
the United States. According to the
Associated Press dispatch from Tokyo
his mission "is a result of what high
naval officials designate as loose talk
on both sides of the Pacific concerning
the possibility of conflict between ia
pan and the United States"
That there has been a great deal of
talk about such a conflict may sur
prise those who have not studied the
situation. Doubtless great deal of
it has come from persons and news
papers attempting to embarrass the
national administration in a political
way, and much more of it has come
from those who desire to further the
interests of Soviet Russia in America,
and realize that from the Russian
standpoint it would be fine to involve
Uncle Sam in some real controversy
with Russia's traditional enemy,
Japan.
Which leads to the question Of what
is it all about? The misunderstand-
ing, such as it is, centers around the
Manchurian problem. The Japanese
claim that control of Manchuria, eth
err directly or indirectly, is vital is
sue to them. They say that Japan's
overflow population has been shut out
of America, Australia and Canada,
and that there is no place for it to go
except in the direction of Manchuria,
They say further that the Chinese
have no orderly government and will
not have any in this generation or the
next, and that the disordered condi-
tions in Manchuria seriously affect
Japanese business and commerce and
indirectly the commerce of the rest
of the world.
On the other hand the people of the
United States have always had an
affectionate interest in the Chinese
people, because of what seems to be
their inherent unfortunate situation.
Americans have hoped that the Chin
csc would eventually find themselves
and establish a strong government,
thusu adding to the peace of the
world and the possibilities Of foreign
trade. For this reason they have re-
sented the incursions of foreign pow
ers into Chinese territory. The present
situation was, of course, brought
about by the Japanese excursion into
Manchuria, which has led to the state
ment by Secretary Stimson to the
effect that the United States will not
recognize any government set up by
force.
What makes the situation rather
delicate is that Great Britain and
France, the two leading military pow
ers of Europe, do not see eye to eye
with the United States in this matter.
| According to political observers in
Europe they are willing for Japan to
establish itself in Manchuria, feeling
that this will go long way toward
pacifying the Orient and will keep
Japan so busy she will not be able to
interfere with British and French pos
sessions in other points of the Or
lent. The only European country
which is at all apt to dispute Japan's
progress is Soviet Russia.
Now those in America who profess
to fear clash between Japan and
America claim that when the question
is threshed out before the League Of
Nations it will be found that Uncle
Sam is almost isolated in his stand
on Chinese affairs, except perhaps
for the moral support of some of the
smaller countries of Europe. England,
France and Italy, they say, will be
disposed to let Japan take her own
course and will not worry any if she
is involved in difficulties with the Uni
ted States. They add that the dis
cussion of the situation in the League
circles is bound to cause bitterness
which may even disrupt the League
itself.
While the situation from the stand
point of the United States might be
fraught with danger if misunder-
standings were allowed to develop on
both sides, it must not be forgotten
that there is no disposition on the
part of the United States to go to war
to enforce any sort of policy in the
Orient, and this disposition will not
change. While America may disagree