Evening star., 1932-01-28
British Reply ON
Joint Action .
Awaited.
OFFICIALS HERE
FEEL ANXIETY
Count on Exercise
of Restraint by
Toxic Heads.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The situation in Shanghai Is
growing rapidly menacing. The
United States Government is
gravely concerned about the lat
est happening in that interna-
tional port, but is still OF the
opinion that the japanese govern
ment, realizing the far-reaching
consequences of defiant attitude
may have, will act with the COM
mon sense which has always char
acterized the japanese people and
avoid a showdown, not with the
Chinese so much as with some of
the leading western powers.
So far nobody seems able to
fathom the actual frame of mind
of the japanese leaders. News
from Toxic and Shanghai seems
conflicting.
The only positive news received at
late hour is that japanese troops have
been landed and have occupied por-
ton of the native City OF Shanghai,
dangerously close to the international
settlement.
Colony Efficiently Policed.
According to international law, any
nation is entitled to land troops to pro-
tect the life and property of its citizens
when the local authorities are unwil-
ling or unable to afford such pro-
lection. This seems to be the case
with the portion of the native City of
Shanghai, which was occupied early
this morning by the japanese marines.
Our interests in this whole matter is
that the japanese should go no further
important part of Shanghai is being
efficiently policed by British and Amer
ican troops and has an efficient con-
stabulary formed of the civilian white
elements who live in the settlement.
Whether the japanese will endeavor to
gain control over that settlement Is for
the time being an open question.
The presence of "a men-of-war in
the Shanghai Harbor is naturally caus-
ing "a good deal of concern here. A
blockade of Shanghai by the japanese
appears however, unthlnkable because
this cannot be done without a declara-
ZION Oh WAT. buI even IL Jile JdpdileSe
decided to blockade the Chinese ports
without an official declaration of war,
such measure could not affect Ameri-
can and non-Chinese shipping. The right
of search and confScation-War prize
cannot be enforced on any ships ex-
cept those belonging to the nation
whose ports are being officially bloc
kaded.
Our position toward Japan is conse-
quently very clear The scene of ac-
tion has been shifted from Manchuria
to Shanghai, and the only conceivable
way in which We could col-.e into a
direct conflict with the Japanese would
be in case they decide to go into the
international settlement or begin to pre-
vent our free trade with China.
Whether the japanese intend to do that
remains to be seen.
Interests Are Similar.
In the meanwhile the British gov
eminent has been approached by the
United States Government with the
common action in the Far East. The
reason why the British and no other
government has been approached by us
is that the interests of the United
States and those of the British empire
are very similar in that section OF the
world
The British cabinet, presided over by
Ramsay Macdonald, met last night, but
there was no agreement between its
various members regarding the sug-
gested common action 1t appears that
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