Evening star., 1932-08-29

tner increased during the last few weeks
by the frank and clear statements of
responsible japanese officials that the
Japanese government intenos to pro-
ceed with its we'll laid plans in the Far
East, regardless as to what the other
nations of the world may think or dc
about it.
Furthermore small incidents which
have occurred lately have been worry
ing certain quarters of the American
Government, incidents which while not
receiving much public attention are
considered all the same as indicative
of a strained situation.
Last week an automobile accident oc-
Cured between Los Angeles and San
Pedro, Calf, in which one of the oc-
cupants was killed outright while the
other escaped with minor injuries
During the investigation of that acci-
dent, it came out that the man killed
was a japanese naval officer, while the
other was a lieutenant commander in
the japanese Navy. Both men were
language officers studying at Harvard,
but it seemed in some quarters a CO.
incidence that these men should spend
their vacation at San Pedro, one of
the principal raval ports where a large
section Of the United States Navy is at
present.
Incident In China.
Another incident occurred on August
10 at Peiping. The japanese legation
guard decided to hold maneTvers out
side the legation quarters, in the Chinese
city. The American legation drew the
attention of the japanese to the fact
that such an act is bound to have an
unfortunate effect on the Chinese popu-
lation, especially at this time when the
Chinese leaders might consider it as a
provocative act.
The protest was sent, it is true.
through the diplomatic corps, but it
was not backed by any other foreign
representative. The japanese COM
mander of the guard ignored the pro-
test of the American Minister and pro-
ceeded to hold his maneuvers according
to plan.
All these insignificant incidents. to-
gether with the official statements of
the Japanese officials in Toxic, tend to
create a somewhat tense feeling between
the two countries, and it is this that
Admiral Nomura is endeavoring to dis
pei His mission is to reassure the
American people, more than the Ameri-
can Government, Of the friendly inten-
tions of the Japanese government to-
ward this country and of the necessity
and righteousness of Japan's action in
Manchuria and other parts of China.
Japanese Envoy Absent.
But, besides this important mission,
it is believed in we'll informed quarters
that the japanese admiral has been
chosen as a good will ambassador at
this time because the Toxic govern
ment relies, on the whole, more on the
cold Judgment of its military and naval
men than on that of its civilian repre-
Sentatives.
Ambassador Debuchi is on vacation
in Japan at present. Serious things
are likely to occur between the time
Nomura arrives here and the time when
the Ambassador is expected to return
to Washington.
While the personnel of the japanese
embassy in Washington and especially
the charge d'affaires, are intelligent and
able men, the Toxic government feels
the necessity of having in Washington,
even unoficially, a man of Admiral
Nomura'S type. He naturally carries
more weight with his government than
a young diplomat, no matter how able
he is.