Evening star., 1934-03-22
Japan's Friendly Gesture.

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timents of friendliness underlie the
notes just exchanged between Japanese
Foreign Minister Hirota and Secre-
tary of State Hull. In its spontaneity
and candor the correspondence is
unique. Ordinarily such communica-
tions take place only when relations
between governments are menaced by
some existent or prospective incident.
AS the Japanese-American horizon is
not thus clouded, the Toxic statesman
is entitled to expect that his overtures
will be accepted at their face value
as a gracious and genuine gesture,
looking to even more cordial under
standing between nations whose
friendship has never been sundered.
Without rejecting upon Japan's
purpose in reassuring this country of
her pacific intent, it is permissible to
explore the motives that may have
inspired Mr.. Hirota to address him
self to the American Government at
this particular moment. He intimates
that he was moved mainly by two
considerations-f1rst, the fact that the
new Japanese Ambassador, Mr.. Saito,
has just embarked upon his mission
at Washington, and, secondly, that
this month marks the eightieth ami
verSary of the first Japanese -Ameri
can treaty of amity and commerce,
the historic pact negotiated by Com
modore Perry of the United States
Navy, and which opened Japan to
intercourse with the world.
There are, of course, other factors
in the Japanese American situation
which give timeliness to the desire of
both countries for clariication and
accord. OF immediate Importance,
and the subject first mentioned in
Mr.. Hirota's note, Is the matter of
trade. President Roosevelt is about
to initiate worldwide negotiations
looking to reciprocal commercial ar
rangements with other countries,
Japan enters conspicuously into that
picture. She sells US 100000, 900
worth of her raw silk every year. We
sell her almost as much cotton.
Japanese wares are invading the Ameri-
can market on an increasing scale,
and many of them, because of low
cost production, offer serious competi-
ton to American manufacturers
There is both room and necessity in
the trade field for Japanese American
agreement.
Of no less magnitude is the issue Of
naval power 1t cannot be doubted
that the determination of the United
States, just manifested by action of
Congress, to develop our feet to full
treaty dimensions, has made deep
impression in Japan. To what extent
the American program has damped
the ardor of Toxic extremists to scrap
existing naval ratios and to demand
parity with the United States and
Great Britain has not been disclosed,
but the naval question assuredly is
one which the Toxic and Washington
governments require to canvass and
settle before Japanese American skies
will cease to be overcast.
There Is finally the status of Man
chukuo. The United States has not
abandoned the position that the crea-
ton of that state under japanese
military auspices constitutes a yio-
lation of international treaties and
that it can therefore not recognize
it as de iure sovereign government.
Plainly. until the American attitude
toward Emperor" Kang Teh's realm"
is regularized, potential bone of
contention between Washington and
Toxic will remain.
Nor is it improbable that American
recognition Of the Soviet Union whets
Japan's desire for solidifying her re-
lations with the United States. BY
an interesting coincidence, the latest
number of the monthly review, Con-
temporary Japan, in an article en-
titled The Real Hirota,' defines jap
anese policy as one of requiring the
friendship of the United States in
case of a conflict between Japan and
Russia, and the friendship of Russia
in case of a japanese American clash.
One more question stands now be-
tween the two countries to vex them.
1t relates to the immigration Of jap
anese subjects into the United States.
Denial of that privilege has caused a
feeling of resentment in Japan, which
may be allayed by the grant of a
quota to the Japanese, to place them
in respect to this matter, upon the
basis of the nationals of other coun-
tries seeking habitation here. To the
end of complete rapproachement it
is to be hoped that eventually, indeed
soon, this will be done.
Mr.. Hirota expresses the belief that
"all issues pending between the two
nations will be settled in a satisfactory
manner 3" when discussed with an
open mind and in all frankness, and
approached with a spirit of co-opera-
ton and conciliation." Secretary Hull
voices full sympathy with that sug-
geStion.
The early future no doubt will wit
ness practical steps to carry out pro-
posals that are now only informally
and broadly outlined. Both Foreign
Minister Hirota and Secretary Hull