Evening star., 1934-02-11

to bring their navies up to the
strength permitted by the London
treaties, America, in the interest of
economy, reduced its naval building
program. Not until Franklin D.
Roosevelt, at one time Assistant Sec
retaiy of the Navy, took Office as
President we're there any signs OF a
change in our naval policy. Since
he has been In office steps have been
taken to build our Navy up to treaty
strength and, thanks to the Vinson
bill, we shall enter the conference In
1885 with almost the full quota OF
naval vessels. at least under con-
struction, if not actually built.
According to the latest annual re-
port Of the Secretary Of the Navy,
If the fleets are built up to treaty
strength the status of the three
navies will be as follows: Capital
substituted States, Is; Great Brit
ain. Is; Japan, g. Aircraft carriers
United States, 6; Great Britain, g.;
Japan, 6. Ten-thousand-ton cruisers
United States, IS, Great Britain, Is,
Japan, 10. Smaller cruisers-United
States, 1e; Great Britain, 81: Japan,
Great Britain, 104; Japan, 83. Sub
marines-United States, 54; Great
Britain, At; Japan, SO.
This means that, although the
British and the American navies will
be more powerful in capital ships,
aircraft carriers and large cruisers,
Japan will be particularly strong in
smaller vessels. The significance of
this lies in the importance which de-
stroyers and submarines play in COM
merce destruction and in harassing
lines of communication. In any con-
sideration of these or smaller figures,
the bases of operation must always be
borne in mind. A glance at the map
shows Japan's predominant strategic
position in all the waters of the
Western Pacific.
What of Future?
So much for the background of the
problem. What of the future?
It is the contention of many per-
sons that Japan. by occupying Man
churia has violated the nine-power
treaty signed at Washington in 1922
guaranteeing the territorial integrity
of China. AS result of this treaty
violation they maintain that the other
treaties signed at Washington, in
Guiding the treaty on the limitation
of naval armaments, have lost their
validity. They point out that the
treaties respecting questions of the
Pacific and of Eastern Asia were in
timately linked with the treaties re-
specting the navies. BY violating
Chinas territorial integrity Japan has
brought about a new political situa-
ton in the Far East, which has Gre
ated new problems.
At the same time 1t was pointed
out that the action of the American
Congress in granting ultimate inde-
pendence to the Philippines has intro
duced new element of uncertainty
in the problems of the Pacific. This
uncertainty remains so long as the
fate of the Philippines is undecided.
Up to the present the Philippine
Legislature has refused to accept the
terms offered by the American Con-
gress, and Congress has replied, in
effect, Take it or leave it," and has
made it plain that unless the Filipinos
accept the Hawes- Cutting bill they
will lose their opportunity for inde-
pendence.
This is not the place to discuss the
question of the Philippines, but it
should be borne in mind that if the
United States withdraws from the
islands the balance Of power in the
Far East will be upset. This, In turn,
places special responsibilities on the
British. not only as guardians of Aus
tralasia, but also of the Dutch East
Indies, which form a stepping stone
from Japan to Australia.
The Philippine Problem.
1t is no secret that the uncertainty
about the future of the Philippines is
one Of the reasons why the British
have continued uninterruptedly to
strengthen their naval base at Singa-
pore. They have done this, not with
a view to aggressive action against
Japan or any other nation, but rather
as a matter of precaution, SO that
in the event of a new disturbance in
the Far East the British Navy will
be able to bring its full strength to
bear in the Pacific.
The latest complication resulting
from Japan'S occupation Of Man
churia has to do with Russia. Ever
since 1895 the Russians have at
tempted from time to time to domi-
nate Manchuria.
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5
was direct result of Russia's am
billions to have an ice-free port on
the China Sea, so as to compensate
for Vladivostok. which is ice-bound
during the Winter months An agree
ment was made between the japanese
and Russians delimiting the spheres
Of influence of the two countries in
Manchuria in 1907 In 1915 an
agreement was initiated, but never
ratified, by which Russia, which
owned the Chinese Eastern Railway
that runs through Northern Man.
churia. ceded to Japan the southern
spur Of this railway connecting the
South Manchurian Railway and
Harbin.
The collapse of the Russian empire
naturally affected Russian interests in
Manchuria. In 1924 a treaty was
signed between the Chinese and Soviet
Russia providing for joint operation
Of the Chinese Eastern Railway. AS
time passed the Russians gradually
increased their control over this rail-
road. Not to be outdone, however, the
japanese embarked on a railroad
building program which, when COM
pleted, served to cut the Chinese
Eastern Railway at strategic spot
between Harbin and the Siberian bor-
der. 1t was clear, even as early as
1926, that the Japanese would some
day advance and occupy this terri
tory.
Forward Into Manchuria.
In the Autumn of 1881, when
Europe was torn by financial strife
and America was suffering from the
disorganization due to the depression,
the Japanese decided that they could
safely move forward in Manchuria
without interference from the West
ern world. We published the ingenious
doctrine that we would not recognize
territorial changes resulting from the
use of armed force. The Japanese,
however, continued to spread out
through Manchuria and then de-
clared 1t to be an Independent state