Evening star., 1934-04-30

The informal statement at Toxic
that Japan maintains the right to be
guardian of the peace of China is re-
garded by many American editors as
sort of trial balloon. AS the un-
official edict clashes with the "open
door" policy 1t is widely held that a
showdown on the Nipponese authority
will be needed to restore diplomatic
calm.
Should the policy as outlined be
accepted" says the Charleston (W
Va.D Daily Mail, the fate of China
might as well be regarded as sealed
1t is unlikely, though, that the powers
will consent to such a plan" The
Providence Journal observes that
Japan is not always so audacious as
she seems to be-" while the Rockford
Register Republic suggests that "a
firm, immediate, concerted warning to
Japan might reassure Asia and modify
the ambitions of Japan"
There is one possible way" accord
ing to the Cincinnati Tfmes-Star, "ot
smoothing over this incident, which is
loaded with dynamite for the United
States and the great European powers
The statement Of japanese policy was
not sent out through official channels
and with official sponsorship, but given
direct to the press. Though this
action exasperated foreign officials in
all the great capitals. it leaves an
opening for a milder and more guarded
statement of japanese aims later on
1t may be that Japan meant the
statement as a trial balloon. If So
its only effect thus far has been to
make those olive branches recently
exchanged by East and West look
pretty sadly withered."
The theory of a trial balloon is ac-
cepted also by the Boston Transcript,
while the Adrian (Mich.) Telegram
takes the position: "It is pretty plain
talk for one major power to use in ad-
dressing the other nations of the
world. Stripped Of its diplomatic
phraseology, it is simply declara-
ton that the Japanese resent any
business relations between China
and the rest of the world that
will have the effect of strengthening
the Chinese in a military way. 1t is
direct notice to the United Stat
that our practice Of selling airplanes
to China and Of training Chinese aN-
ators is untavorably regarded by
Japan"
Looking forward to a world arma-
ment race, the Fort Worth Star-Tele-
gram wonders what will they use for
money!" The situation is thus sum-
married. by the Texas paper:
Japan purposes being the power
-be-reckoned-with in the Far East.
1t demands territory on the continent
and has taken the first block OF 1t.
It has declared its intent Of being the
super-influence in China's affairs and
has demanded of the United States
and Great Britain par armament
figure instead of the 5-5-3 which was
supposed to balance the worlds sea
power. The Pacific Ocean never will
be neutral so long as the japanese
program maintains. The League OF
Nations cannot contain Germany,
Japan and France. The urges which
actuate those three races are such as
to demand the armament race which
the advocates of universal peace have
been striving to avoid. There Is but
one question remaining with which to
generate a little hope-that being,
what will they use for money!"
Challenging the Japanese charge
that other nations furnish military
supplies to China, the Long Beach
(Calif) Press Telegram makes the
statement: Munitions, as such, are
not being sold to China by the United
States Government. It may be that