Evening star., 1935-02-10

attitude to the United States. Japan's
withdrawal from the League becomes
effective March 81 and with that
withdrawal a new situation confronts
British craftsmanship.
In regard to Britain's attachment
to the League there is, of course, no
shadow Of doubt. Apart from the
irresponsible crusade Of Lord Beaver
brooks press against the League and
in favor Of League composed Of the
constituents of the British Empire,
there is no subject about which pub
lie opinion is more completely agreed
than that Of loyalty to Geneva.
How overwhelming this feeling is
will be apparent, understand, in the
figures Of the plebiscite which is in
progress on the subject throughout
the country and which. as far as it
has gone, discloses a sheer tidal wave
Of affirmation. Moreover, even if
there had been any doubt, it would
have been removed by the remarkable
evidences Of the revival Of the pres
tige and influence of the League dur
ing the past two months, when three
critical issues, any one Of which might
have eliminated in disaster. have
been amicably settled solely through
the machinery of Geneva.
It is obvious, Of course. that the
more British policy tends to be merged
with that of the League the less it
will approximate to that of Japan
Geneva has condemned Toxic and
Toxic has repudiated Geneva. and
the breach is to all appearances final
and irreparable.
But, though Japan has no inten-
ton Of modifying her policy. she
wants friends. Especially she wants
the friendship of England. Nothing
is more remarkable in the polite
gestures which Mr.. Hirota makes to
all and sundry than the significant
| difference in his tone about Britain
and the United States. Conflict with
the United States, he said. was un-
imaginable, but his reference tc
Britain went far beyond this. He in
vited our cooperation as the most
important contribution that could be
made to world peace.
Now 1t would be idle to deny that
in spite of the happenings of the
past three years. Japan still has
friends in this country who regret
that our treaty with her was allowed
to lapse and who believe that our
interests still lie in the direction oi
an understanding and cooperation
with her. 1t was in order to stimulate
that sympathy that the japanese re-
Gently entertained a deputation from
the Federation of British Industries
in Manchoukuo and sent them home
with glowing accounts Of what CO.
operation with Japan could do for
us. But this experiment in pub
licity was received with significant
GOODNESS by the public and the press
and nothing Is more certain than
| that if events compel Britain to make
choice between the active friend
ship of Japan and that of America
the decision will be for America.
X Il X X
Recently the probability of thai
choice having to be made has beer
the theme of two Of the most out
| standing personalities in British af.
fairs. On both occasions the verdict
was decisively for America, and or
both occasions the declaration was
acclaimed by the whole of the re-
sponsible press Of the country. The
remarkable utterance of Gen. Smuts
| was the more significant because II
reminded the country that in such q
choice the practically unanimous
voice of the Dominions would be or
| the side OF an American understand
i ing. But the declaration Of Mr.. LloyC
George, in the speech which ha:
brought him back as one OF the
potentialities of British politics, has
been no less favorably commented on
Fruitful action, especially in t-ie
East" he said, involves, as the flrst
condition of success, complete un.
derstanding with America"
That is the view of the Liberia
party-without, venture to say,
dissent. And it is the view Of the
preponderance Of the Conservative
party-certainly of the responsible
leaders of that party. Further, the
committal of this country to the
support and furtherance OF the
League of Nations, as the instrument
by which alone the reign Of law car
| be substituted for the reign Of force
| in the affairs Of the world, leaves
British craftsmanship no alternative
| in the matter. Active cooperation
with Japan would not only involve the
acceptance of her claims to dominate
Asia but the reputation Of the spirit
and actions of the League, with which
which Japan has brusquely, almost
contemptuously broken.
D (Copyyight 1852