Imperial Valley press., 1935-01-04
EDITORIAL PAGE
and
FEATURES
OUR PACIFIC POLICY

Considerable food for thought by
Americans was presented yesterday in an
address before the local Rotary club by F.
I. Chan, Chinese consul at MeXicali, who
discussed the foreign policy of the United
States.
The high spot in his address was the
statement that an amicable agreement or
understanding between Great Britain
and the United States, is the only logical
way to prevent a ruinous naval building
race as a result of Japan's remuneration
of the Washington treaty providing B.
5-3 naval ratio for the United States,
Great Britain and Japan.
In renouncing the treaty Japan has
made known to the world her desire for
naval parity with the United States and
Great Britain. She proposes to get it
unhampered by the restrictions of the
treaty. 1t is not to be accepted that
Great Britain and the United States
would permit Japan to build up its navy
to equality with them. On the contrary,
there is every reason to expect them to
build sufficiently to keep ahead of
Japan. Therein is the naval building
race, a costly undertaking and a direct
contravention of the universally express
ed desire for world peace.
Mr.. Chan pointed out that the United
States can no longer hold to its policy of
isolation. Modern transportation and
communication methods have changed
the world so that the conditions which
governed our foreign policy 80 or so
years ago, do not apply today. Also,
we have been recognized by the rest of
the world as a leading power and wheth-
er we wish it or not, as Mr.. Chan declar-
ed, such leadership entails responsible
ties which must be accepted as part of
the leadership accorded US and which we
do not disclaim.
This viewpoint is not accepted by many
Americans. There are also many others
to whom the very thought of any align
ment with Great Britain is repugnant.
Yet Mr.. Chan rightly declared that Great
Britain and the United States are def
initely bound together by the strong ties
of common language, common relig-
ion (broadly viewed) and common GUS
toms and traditions.
There is distinct difference between
the American Anglomaniac who would
ape British affectations or peculiarities
and the American who recognizes defin-
ite, joint ideals held by British and Am
ericans and who seeks to foster and
strengthen them
Always there will be differences of
opinion. misunderstanding, perhaps even
jealousy between English and American,
for despite the many things we enjoy in
common there is difference. But the
immense amount of goodgto each country
and to the world at large, that would re-.
suit from an understanding between the
two nations, would far offset the irrita-
ton caused by the existing differences.
Naturally Mr.. CHAINS gaze was on the
Pacific, as he spoke. Americans, even
those of US on the Pacific coast, have too
long centered almost our entire thought
relative to our foreign policy (if we give
it any thought) y on our relations with
Europe. The time is at hand when it
must be directed more and more toward
the Pacific We do not insinuate we have
any Quarrel there. We don't believe we
have any cause for a quarrel, jingo claims
in the United States and Japan to the
contrary Notwithstanding. But we GER
tainly have definite problems there and
with the withdrawal of Japan from
treaty with US they most assuredly be-
come more serious.
Our wealth and resources enable US to
keep abreast or ahead of any naval build
ing program Japan may start but we do