Evening star., 1937-09-15

upon third parties. They are attempts
to involve outside elements in rescue.
The British note to Japan. if intended
to impress Japan, would not have en-
phasized the shooting of non-com-
batants, in which Britain herself has
engaged frequently and recently 1t
would have stressed instead the insult
to imperial majesty, to which the
Emperor -worshiping Japanese must
have responded. But the British
foreign Office was out to impress the
United States, not Japan. The note
was phrased with view to the
greatest propaganda value to American
newspaper readers. Americans are
more affected by atrocities to non
combatants than by insults to majesty.
Russia Puts Britain on Spot.
The same indirect idea lay behind
Russia's note to Italy There is small
danger of Russia and Italy engaging
in direct warfare. But Britain is put
on the spot She must now choose
between her professed new love for
Italy and support OF anti-piracy on
the high seas Further, what is done
about illegal seizure and sinking of
shipping on the Mediterranean sets
the precedent for the West Pacific
Ocean. Japan is soon going to be
seizing or blocking Russian and Brit
ish and American shipping there.
At Nuremberg Hitler crates bluntly
"our agreement with Japan serves the
purpose of the civilized world against
an attack which today is being waged
in Spain, but which may be waged to-
morrow in the Far East or anywhere
else"
The important fact behind all this
phenagling is that Stain is getting
on his feet again in Russia. The
Soviet power, reorganized after the
purge, feels a recovery of strength and
becomes prime power Early in July,
following travels in Russia, Lieut.. Gen.
Homma reported to the japanese gen.
eral staff that. The Russian army
is so disrupted by the purge that it
| can be considered non-existant SO far
as our plans are concerned for years
to come That report is proving
misleading.
| Yet if the United States stays out,
economically and navally, the Japa-
nese are confident that they will win
in record time. The great British
| feet rouses no fear in them In up
to-date vessels they have more power
right now than Britain, save for capi-
tai ships, which are meat for sub
marines. And Japan ranks first in
submarines, with Italy second. II
Mussolini can laugh at the British
fleet Japan doesn't have to give il
even a second thought. The great
British Leviathan is caught and held
because Of its very hugeness, with
Germany at its throat, Italy at its
midriff and Japan astride its scarely
Topping tail
Force Beyond Singapore Folly.
For Britain TO attempt the use oil
force beyond Singapore is folly. Anc
that means that if Japan does not gel
mired down and exhausted in China
the Japanese navy is free--if Uncle
Sam does not intervene-to carry out
The policy of its fire-eating boss.
behind-the-sce Admiral Suetsugu
who announced two years ago that the
navy's job was to make all the South
Seas part of Japan's economic empire
Western peoples now realize tha
they paid too little attention to Japan.
preparations. They we're too ready t.
listen to idealists who talked O
Japan's liberals" When they die
scan Japan's naval statistics the,
completely overlooked her unoficia
fleet-the portion Of the Japanes,
navy which is registered as "fishin,
fleet et"-conservatively estimated a
200 900 tons to add to the approximat,
million tons reported in navy books
These are attended by floating can
neries which are armed "mothe
ships reported TO carry in thei
| bellies mQcotiffo fornodaee c,,hS on,