Evening star., 1937-12-15
Pledges and Performances,

On January 8, 1921, Lieutenant Lang
oon OF U. S. S. Albany was killed in
colo blood by Japanese sentry at
'Vladlvostok. Ambassador Shidehara in
Washington proclaimed officially deep
concern and regret" coupled with sin
'cerest. condolences" over "the deplorable
incident" Thereupon the United States
Government, citing "the essential and
undisputed fact" that "an American
naval officer, in full uniform, was shot
IN the back by Japanese soldier on
foreign soil over which Japan exercised
no jurisdiction" called upon Toxic for
prompt and suitable reparation for an
utterly unjuStifled act" described as
merely the most serious of a number of
like cases" of which American citizens
had been victims in portions of Siberia
where Japanese troops were stationed.
While the sentry in question was
undergoing court-martial, it developed
that Captain Richardson of the Albany
several weeks prior to the shooting of
his subordinate, had twice been halted
by Japanese sentries and threatened with
bayonets, and that on three occasions
since the fatality, officers and men of
the cruiser had been similarly menaced.
Some three weeks after Langdon was
shot the Japanese foreign minister
ilttprinD ofrach
pain and sincere coincidence" informed
our Toxic Embassy that the Japanese
military commander at Vladivostok was
"giving his most sincere attention to the
unfortunate incident" and adopting
suitable measures to prevent any recur-
renee Secretary Colby, impatient over
the delay in adjustment Of the case, de-
manded action, whereupon, on February
2l, six weeks after the episode, Japan
announced that the offending sentry
had been acquitted because of certain
shortcomings in his orders" but that
the major general commanding the dis
trict had been removed, while four or
~a'S S<DoA d1AldIC O14lCClS WclS
confined to quarters for periods up to
thirty days.
This recital of events nearly seventeen
years old is of interest only because it
recalls that the game Japan has just
played with American life on the
Yangtze represents no new departure.
Nor does her disposition of the outrage
on December II differ in any material
respect from her adjudication of the
Langdon affair. In response to President
Roosevelt's protest against the sinking
OF U. S. S. Panay and other American
nag ships, Japan promises "indemnifica-
tions for all losses" agrees to IDEAL ap-
propriately with those responsible for
the incident" tenders apologies and
undertakes to prevent occurrences. These
assurances carry somewhat more con-
viction than the flimsy explanation that
the japanese air force thinking it was
pursuing Chinese troops fleeing from
Nanking, although flying fairly low"
was unable, because Of poor visibility, to
discern it was shooting at craft flying
the Stars and Stripes.
Japan's note INDUCES in "the fervent
hope" that friendly relations with the
United States will not be affected by this
unfortunate affair" AS to that, every
thing depends on whether pledges are
henceforth matched by performances.
The Japanese war lords may discover
that their faith in the invincible pacifism
OF the American people is misplaced if
there is another Panay affront.
The gentleman who nut in a word