Evening star., 1932-08-30
Japan's Goodwill Envoy.

Vice Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura of
the Japanese Navy is coming to the
United States next month on a mission
Of good will. As an old friend, he may
rely upon a cordial welcome from this
Government and people Despite re-
curing differences Of opinion between
Japan and this country, the bedrock of
mutual esteem Is deep and solid. It
has been called upon in the past to
stand considerable strain, and current
international developments are subject
ing 1t to another, and perhaps supreme,
test. Good will on both sides has
hitherto served to smooth the path Of
Japanese relations at critical
moments. Manifestly, it Is the hope Of
Japan that, as the bearer Of her good
will toward the United States, Admiral
Nomura will contribute to the solution
of the latest problem which the two
countries confront.
That problem is Japanese policy In
China, and in Manchuria in particular.
About the time the Nipponese admiral
is in this country his government, it is
circumstantially indicated, will proceed
to the recognition Of Manchukuo, the
independent" state set up in North
China as a direct consequence Of the
Japanese invasion and occupation Of
Manchuria last Fall. The Nomura mis-
sion will synchronize, too, with the re-
port Of the League Of Nations Commis-
sion which has been delving into the
Manchurian business during the past
six months. Toxic shas definite reason
to believe that the report will be adverse
to Japanese contentious. It Is expected
to disclose that the japanese were not
acting in purely elf-defense when they
cannon-balled their way through Man
churia, and that Manchukuo was not
set up as q sovereign state exclusively
by the acts of its own people. The
Leagues findings, in other words, would
brand Japan as aggressor In Man
churia.
Nippon's envoy will sojourn in Amer
lea while his own country and this are
still ringing with the words which Sec
retary Stimson uttered early in August,
when defining the true inwardness and
implications Of the Kellogg BRAND anti
war pact. Col. Stimson reafirmed more
vigorously than ever the Hoover doc
trine" which proclaims that the United
States cannot acknowledge the validity
of any territory or political situation
treaties. The Secretary of State did
not specifically name Japan or Man
churia, but he was undoubtedly refer
ring to them. Japan officially and
openly resented the imputation, and
charged Col. Stimson with seeking to
mobilize world sentiment against jap
anese procedure In China.
Admiral Nomura will find American
public opinion fairly well crystallized
against Japan's maneuvers in China.
Shanghai, Manchuria and, more re-
Gently, Jehol have become symbols Of
Toxic militarist policy which do not
please the American people. Such
provocative utterances as have lately
emanated from War Minister Gen.
Araki and responsible politicians like
Mr.. Mori, with their unabashed decla-
ration of Japanese purposes to lord it
over all Asia, are frankly disturbing.
If Admiral Nomura is headed this way
with assurances not merely designed to
Danish American suspicious of Japan's
plans, but actually capable Of doing so,
he will be doubly welcome on these
shores. But Japanese actions will have
to speak louder than japanese words
If that unalloyed American good will,
which Nippon apparently Graves, is to
come within the realm of the attainable.