Evening star., 1933-01-04
japan at Shanhaikwan.

mmeClate causes ana underlying
motives are SO inextricably linked in
the enibittered and chaotic relations be-
tween Japan and China that time must
elapse before the true inwardness of
the Japanese occupation Of Shanhai-
kwan becomes fully apparent. On its
face, the assault upon and capture Of
the strategic point where the great wall
meets the sea and Manchuria merges
into "China proper" Is the latest move
by Japan to round out" the puppet
state of Manchukuo by gobbling up
more Chinese territory. The Japanese
make no bones Of the fact that this Is
their objective, though Toxic spokes-
men are at pains to deny that the op-
erations at Shanhaikwan are in any
wise connected with the intentions OF
the japanese army ultimately to make
the adjacent Province Of Jehol unmis-
takably part Of Manchukuo." 1t so
happens that Shanhaikwan is strategic
ally SO situated that it would be log
ical base of both military and naval op-
erations in case Japan should determine
to launch a definite campaign for the
conquest of Jehol.
An explanation Of Japan's latest ven
ture, which is bound to shock world
not yet reconciled to her treaty-defying
activities in China since September,
1881, will be found by many observers
In the recent Impeachment between
Soviet Russia and the Marking govern
ment. The japanese government and
people, long suspicious of Russia's de-
signs In Mongolia and North Man
churia, apparently discern in the re-
sumption Of diplomatic relations be-
tween Moscow and China threat
which Toxic cannot afford to ignore.
That Japan would eventually meet that
threat with military demonstration
could hardly be doubted, with army
leaders like Gen. Araki and other
soldier-statesmen In the saddle at
Toxic.
1t Is also suggested that Japan has
chosen this particular moment for con-
solidation" Of her position in Man.
chukuo and the elimination" of
Chinese elements capable Of arresting
her advance through Jehol because
evidence Is plentiful that neither the
League Of Nations nor the United States
10 prepared to come materially to
FtI7fraotc q M1ai1n fus0
months ago, when the Lytton Commits
sion report held the limelight at Geneva,
1t seemed as If the League powers might
be forced to resort to some sort Of
drastic action against Japan. But when
the whole issue was transferred to an
innocuous "Conciliation Committee. of
Nineteen" Japan obviously came to the
conclusion that nothing now projected
by the League need deter Gen. Araki
and his party from carrying out their
further purposes In China.
The United States has stated its own
position, over and over again. 1t be-
heves that the establishment of Man
chukuo took place under conditions
distinctly violative Of the nine-power
treaty and the Kellogg BRAND pact. So
holding, this Government has pro-
claimed its intention of refusing to
recognize the validity of the situation
thus created. From that attitude there
is no indication that Washington in
tends TO withdraw Meantime Toxic
can be in little doubt that the American
people support their Government whole
heartealy in this policy. Japan can be
equally certain that her American
friends regret that she has given the
world fresh cause to suspect the in
tegrity of her purposes toward China
and her loyalty to the international
peace machinery she herself helped to
set up. to curb aggression and protect
the rights Of weaker countries.