Imperial Valley press., 1937-08-20
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THE TTNDER BOX
IN THE FAR EAST

IN THE FAR EAST
Can the United States adhere to its
policy Of avoiding ENHANCEMENT in the
Far East tinder box? That question is
from day TO day burning deeper into the
thought of serious minded Americans.
American troops are already in the
Shanghai area, and more are being sent
to protect Americans in the war zones.
That no war has officially been de-
clared means nothing at all. Italy did
not declare war on Ethiopia, nor has
Germany and Italy, fighting on the side
of the Spanish insurgents, declared war
against Russia and France who are sup
plying military experts. ammunition and
war equipment TO the Red Spanish gov
ernment.
That American Marines and soldiers
should protect American life in the war
zone is proper. That they should protect
American interests as far as possible
without embroiling us in the trouble, is
also proper Those American factories
and properties are a part of the Ameri-
can system which extends into world
trade and which produces employment
for American workers on American soil.
BUT =. America is willing to saeri-
flee those interests in behalf of keeping
out of trouble Rather sacrifice things
of brick and mortar and steel than sacri-
flee American troops in another foolish,
futile war on foreign soil which brings
only sorrow and debts which future gen.
erations must bear.
1t will take the best in cool-headed
judgment by diplomats and military
leaders in China. Let US hope there are
no blunders and minimum of American
bloodshed.
1t will be interesting to watch the con-
flict from distance with the thought in
mind that possibly Japan has bitten off
more than she can chew.
Japan has gone to the limit in recent
years to build up her army and navy.
For a small country, she has an amaz-
ing military machine, far superior to that
of China-though China herself has made
progress in unifying and strengthening
the country. China's greatest weakness
has always been the corruption of her
local governments-as Oswald Garrison
Willard has written, ''The purchasing of
Chinese statesmen and generals is ia
pans long suit; it has advanced her and
her policy of conquest far more rapidly
than have her rifles and cannon" The
central, Marking government has usually
proven unable to control the superabund-
ant local War Lords-each with his own
interest at heart and each suspicious of
the others The situation as it exists in
China, is as if each American state gov
ernor had a great private army which
he could use for any purpose he wishes,
even to the extreme of fighting the armies
of neighboring governors.
o
AS a consequence, plus Japans far
more efficient and modern war machines,
it is believed certain that the japanese
will encounter relatively little trouble
in conquering the north provinces She
will take over cities and accomplish de-
struction on a vast scale, and probably
replace present local governments with
by the japanese, as she did in Manchu-
ria But in the long run, Japan's chances
of success are dubious. China is a tre-
mendous country, with the largest popu-
lation in the world. Not since the dawn
of history has it been permanently con-
quered-over period of many years,
the invaders intermarry with the Chi
nese and are virtually swallowed by the
immense country China has more than
half billion people as against Japan's
75000,000.
1t seems inconceiyable that Japan will
unhindered into China Russia is strong
ly anti-Japanese and WILL if matters go
far enough, throw her resources to the
OUT OUR WAY - -