The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-01-27
WHATS GOING ON
IN WASHINGTON
Japanese Situation a Puzzle;
Arms Export Treaty; to Re-
vamp Bankruptcy Laws.
BY WILLIAM BRucKART

ton: "What about Japanf" And eV-
cry attempt to answer is stalled be-
cause none can say what can be done
about Japan. -5
While Japan has edged further Into
the longtime Chinese territory OF
Jehol, the world powers have stood
by with poker faces and have given
only such support as they have been
forced to give to what eventually will
come to be known as the "Stimson
doctrine" One hears great deal of
criticism of the impotency of the Unit
ed States in the japanese situation.
but this must be allowed for the
United States: 1t attempted to do
something worthwhile, and historians
and students of foreign affairs in and
out of the government appear to agree
that the failure Of the effort cannot
be laid at the door of our nation.
No one seems to know what the ul-
innate object of Japan is; no one has
been able to divine the purpose of the
steady. driving force that Japan has
eXerted through almost two years, but
everyone recognizes the dangers in the
situation. Some see one set of posi-
bilities, while others insist that anoth-
er series of potentialities are more
grave.
review of the circumstances shows
that Japan has set her face directly on
a program of obtaining more territory
into which her crowded millions can
pour from the narrow confines of her
island empire. The same review re-
veals that the civil structure of the
japanese government has had little
or nothing to say about the policy
upon which her armies have launched.
Further, the entire course of events
has disclosed probably the greatest ar
rogance of any nation of modern times
in respect of the appeals and yelled
threats of other nations.
There are rich resources in Jehol
and the territory beyond the Great
Wall of China, resources sorely need
ed by Japan. They are both agricul-
tural and mineral. They provide new
lifeblood for a people who are multi
plying rapidly. 1t is new frontier,
and do not overlook the fact that once
Jehol and the adjacent territory is
made to slumber under the yoke of
Japan, it is only stones throw for
the military forces into the old Chi
nese capital of Peiping Some OBJ
servers here, and they are not all I'M
official. say that as the Far Eastern
drama unfolds, it looks more and more
like one of those conquests by the mil
itary which has no limit short of the
exhaustion of the aggressor.
But Japan Goes Ahead.
The Stimson doctrine, enunciated
more than year ago, said in effect to
Japan: 1T will do you no good to
60 ahead. for we will not recognize
any of the territory you gain in this
way" To quote the words of that dip
lomatic communication which surely
seems to be destined to stand out in
history: 1.-The United States refuses
to recognize any situation, treaty or
arrangement brought about by means
which outlawed war.
But that has had no effect. The
japanese civil structure acted like it
agreed, but the military did not. The
matter got into the League Of Nations
because the United States virtually
forced the league to consider it, and
the league made something of the
same formal statement to Japan. Yet.
Japan, in September of last year, went
right ahead and recognized Man
chukuo. Thus. the Japanese displayed
their conviction: they believe they
Quences of their acts because, as said
at the beginning, what can be done
about it?
This Japanese situation is a lot
closer to us than the several thousands
of miles between the nations would in
dictate. Congress has been milling
around over granting freedom to the
Philippine islands. Both major polit-
zeal parties are committed to it, and it
..
the Filipinos will be given the right to
govern themselves barring that which
now seems unlikely, an overt act to-
wards the United States by the jap
anese.
Senator Borah, of Idaho, chairman
of the senate committee on foreign re-
lations, entertains no fears of the Jap
anese insofar as the Philippine islands
are concerned. He sees the Japanese
as headed the other way" That is,
he believes their ambitions lie in the
direction of far-reaching domain on
the mainland Of Asia, perhaps as a
counter power against the great Rus
sian bear.
Senator Vandenberg, of Michigan,
another member of the same commit
tee. says he can vision a whole bushel
basket filled with possibilities. He
told me that freedom of the Philippines
without the strictest sort of protection
and arrangements for prevention of
trouble would lead directly to trouble
with Japan.
So it is to be seen that the policy
of the United States with respect to
the Japanese invasion of China has
more Importance than just as it bears
on seizure of Chinese territory.
Arms Export Treaty.
Relations between governments al
ways are matters of delicacy. 1t is
difficult sometimes therefore to gain
naked facts. Weathervanes may be
observed however. and one of them
is the recent proposal by President
Hoover to the senate that it hurry up
n bit in ratifying the international