Evening star., 1933-01-17
America and the Far East.

established between the Hoover a6-
ministratic1 and President-elect Roose-
yclt are now apparent. There is to be
complete continuation of American
policy with rcspccS to current events in
the Far East. Intere4.si foreign gov
crnments hcye been informed that the
incoming administration win adhere, in
lette-- and spirit, to the doctrine laid
down by President Hoover and Eecrc-
tary St!inson, that the United States
will withhold recognition of any situa-
ton brought about in violation of the
nine-power treaty and the Kellogg
BRAND pact.
The United States. by the proclama-
tion of that doctrine year ago and
its reaffirmation on recurring occa-
sions in 1882. ortlawed conquest
achieved in defiance of international
covenants. 1t fell to the lot OF a Re-
publican President to enunciate prin-
ciple defined to be as fa--reaching il
its consequences as Jchn Hays open
Goor policy. To q Democratic Presi-
dent-elect comes the opportunity to
a6cpt the program laid down by his
predecessor Of the opposite political
faith.
Gov. Roosevelt has not hesitated to
let it become known, ct singularly
appropriate moment, that partisanship
", tho rr,,;+ci Ctater a,,dS 81 tha ,v,ter,-
edge. Not In long time. has there
been more wholesome demonstration
Of constructiveness in the domain of
American foreign policy.
There is no definite statement that
this development is the direct result
of Secretary sStimson's recent confer
ence with President-elect Roosevelt.
But plainly that Is its explanation.
Otherwise there would have been
neither rhyme nor reason in the dis
patch by a State Department, whose
authority will end in barely two
months, of instructions to our en-
bassies and legations in Europe and
Asia that the American non-recogni-
ton doctrine Is to undergo no change.
In Europe that information arrives at
a psychological moment for it syn
chronizes with this weeks resumed ses-
sions OF the League of Nations Con-
citation Committee of Nineteen"
Presumably 1t is deemed useful at
Washington to reafirm the Hoover
Stimson doctrine at this particular
hour, with supplementary indication
that it is also the Roosevelt doctrine.
because OF word from Geneva that the
Cancellation Committee" is about to
wash the Leagues hands OF further
concern in the Sino-Japanese i'm
broglio. Cables carry the intimation
that the most to be expected of the
committee is that it will slap Japan on
the wrist with a bundle OF pages from
the Lytton report. and let the Man.
chukuo episode go at that.
The United States now does all that
lies in its power. short OF a resort to
force, which has never been seriously
considered in this country, to place
Japan on notice that the American
Government and people are irrevocably
opposed to territorial aggression. Once
again, as Secretary Stimson did in Feb
ruary. 1882, in the state paper he ad-
dressed to Senator Borah. the United
States invites other powers to align
themselves with the American Nation
in outlawing conquest. 1t Is precisely
that mobilization Of world opinion"
for preservation OF world peace and
world law which has been the watch
word Of President Hoover's foreign
policy throughout his occupancy OF the
White House. Col. Stimson has been
its able and unremitting exponent
1t Is cause for national rejoicing
it may turn out to be no less cause
for international gratification-th
Franklin D. Roosevelt has chosen to
nod the Immediately ensuing foreign
po,.cy of the country along similar lines.
The event is not designed forthwith to
r:ccipitate the withdrawal Of Japanese
ferccs from the frozen plains of Man
cnukuo or to mountain valleys Of ad-
jacent Jehol, through which they are
now battling their way. But JapanS
attack on mankind's laboriously con-
structed peace machinery has received
check which, in the years that are
but yesterdays in the lives of nations.
may turn out to be as effective as If
the world had rushed to arms in de-
tense OF Its invaded rights.