Evening star., 1933-03-24
MATSU0KA PLANS
HERE UNDECIDED
Usual Courtesy Expected to
Be Extended by Roose-
welt and Hull.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


Whether Yousuke Matsuoka, Japa-
nese chief delegate at Geneva and
member of the Diet. will see President
Roosevelt or not has not been decided
yet.
The japanese statesman arrived in
New York this morning and will be in
Washington early next week. He has no
diplomatic or official status in this
country, but the Japanese embassy
following an old tradition, can ask the
chief Of protocol, Warren Delano
Robins, to arrange for the President to
receive Mr.. Matsuoka, in the same
manner most distinguished foreign
visitors to Washington are usually re-
ceived at the White House. There is
no doubt the President rs we'll as the
Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, will
extend the usual courtesy of receiving
the head Of the Japanese mission at
Geneva.
Mr.. Matsuoka has, as far as 1t is
known in oficial quarters in Washing
ton, no special mission to discuss with
the administration about the Far East
ern situation. Consequently 1t is doubt
full whether the conversations between
him and the President and the Secre-
tary of State can be more than inform
ative talks about the general outlook
Of the situation, with special bearing
on the position of Japan in regard to
the disarmament and economic confer
enceS.
Wait and See Policy.
As far as the Far East Is concerned
the policy Of the new administration is
wait and see. The doctrine Of non-
recognition Of territories acquired by
the force Of arms, enunciated by the
Hoover administration, will be followed
by President Roosevelt as the only one
compatible with the treaties to which
the United States is a party. Conse-
quently, II Mr.. Matsuoka intends to
bring up the question of Manchuria he
has little chance to obtain from the
President and his Secretary Of State
more than polite hearing.
But in certain official quarters it Is
sincerely hoped the Japanese states
man. who has well established repu-
tation for his tact in handling inter-
national situations, will not make the
mistake OF repeating the statements
he has been making lately abroad to
the effect that America should not in
terfere in the Far East If it wants to
keep the friendship of the japanese
people, and that the American Scout
ing Fleet. which had been sent to the
West Coast, should be returned to its
original basis, in the Atlantic, because
the Japanese government does not like
its presence In the West.
Cause Unpleasant Effect.
These statements Of Mr.. Matsuoka
have caused an unpleasant effect in
American official quarters. who do not
see what Japan has to say about the
location Of the American Navy
Certain members Of the Japanese
embassy here have been told unoficially
that the statements of Mr.. Matsuoka
are likely to be interpreted as an
immixture Of Japan in Americas pri-
vate affairs. 1t was pointed out that
the American Government has never
asked. officially or unofflcially, for any
explanations Of the movements Of the
japanese fleet. especially last year,
when, during the height Of the Shang-
hal troubles, the whole fleet left the
japanese ports and sailed under sealed
orders to an unknown destination out
side OF the Japanese territorial waters.
To relieve the japanese anxiety re-
garding the presence Of the scouting
fleet on the West Coast, it has been
officially stated that the fleet, which
had been dispatched last year for joined
maneuvers with the battle fleet, had to
be kept in the Pacific because the
Government, faced with huge deficit,
decided to save the several hundred
thousand dollars which the return of
the cruisers would have cost the Amer
ican taxpayer.
Motive Apparently Doubted.
That official explanation, regarded In
the light of the present financial diff
culties Of the United States, should
have been more than sufficient, it was
stated in authoritative quarters in
Washington.
But apparently the Japanese govern
ment, If Mr.. Matsuoka acts as its
spokesman, wants to doubt the sincerity
of the motives of the American Gov
eminent. This lack of confidence does
not worry the administration greatly,
but it Is hoped that Mr.. Matsuoka will
not take up this matter with the OH
cials who will be glad to receive him in
Washington, In the same manner he
has discussed it. in his statements IN
the American and foreign press.