Evening star., 1937-10-09

Clarence Streit, in a dispatch to the
New York Times dated Tuesday OF this
week. says:
THE committee acted more strongly
than leading members expected even
At noon today. The reason is Presi-
dent Franklin D. Roosevelt. After
the Presidents Chicago speech be-
~ame known to the committee six
hours in advance of the delivery, the
British. who had been baking at CIV
ing China more than moral support,
swune around and urged the insertion
of the two preceding recommendations
in the resolution"
Why did the Geneva officials see
the Presidents speech in advance?
For only one reason--to influence
their action so that the League and
the United States might act in con-
cert Undoubtedly the Presidents
speech was carefully gone over at the
Department of State and transmitted
to the American Minister in Geneva
for his information and doubtless with
instructions to tell the other delegates
about it,
OF Utmost Significance.
The incident is of the utmost sig
nificance because it tends to prove
that Great Britain. whose policy it
was IN he aloof when Secretary Stim-
aon tried to unite the world against
japanese policy in Manchukuo. pre-
ferred to do the same thing again The
United States. on the other hand. must
have felt it important to put the issue
suuarely before the British govern
ment so that united or concerted ac-
tion in branding Japan as the ag-
gressor would be undertaken at Geneva
and Washington simultaneously
The danger Of isolated or unilateral
sction in matters of this kind is all
too obvious. With all the sigma tories
Of the ninapower treaty. however,
apart from Japan and China. collab-
Grating on pronouncement of policy.
the united front presented to Toxic
becomes of paramount Importance. 1t
ought not to be forgotten that the
nine-power treaty was consummated
in Washington in 1922, when the
AnRlo-JapaneSe offensive and defen-
sive alliance had created so much un-
favorable comment not only in this
country but in Australia and Canada.
The making OF the armament agree
ment and the nine-power treaty. in
both OF which Charles Evans Hughes
participated as Secretary of State. was
notice to the world that the Anglo
LAM pnco 1lionoo ho n haop IrooDoJ
If Great Britain were to have re-
vived the spirit of her Anglo japanese
alliance and to have refrained from
Joining the United States in proclaim
Ing Japan the aggressor. the Toxic
government would have felt that there
was no need to hesitate in CARRYING out
her program in China. But with the
British ranged alongside the United
States. the face Of events changes. The
Japanese have always given ground
before an Anglo American collabora-
tion. and Tokio's diplomacy recently
has been aimed al keeping London and
Washington from acting together in
the Far East.
Mr.. Roosevelt knows all about the
British DETECTION when Secretary
Stimson tried almost single handed to
nip the japanese aggression in the bud
In Manchukuo. The United States
Government felt it was opportune now
fo try again. No chances we're taken.
The suggestion that the League wait
for American action probably was
made in Geneva. The United States
acted first and disposed of that argu-
ment.
Merely for Record
Unfortunately many persons on this
aide Of the Atlantic are trying to read
into Mr.. Roosevelt's policy a 'bellcose
note. They are saying his action in
declaring Japan the aggressor will
lead lis ultimately into war. No such
purpose can be legitimately charged to
the President or Secretary Hull. Their
object is merely to place on record
before the world the opinion OF the
American Government as to the merits
of the dispute and to pave the way for
whatever concerted action may seem
desirable in the future If boycott
comes it will come naturally as
result Of public discussions.
1t is the pacifist group which ought
70 be applauding the Presidents policy
instead Of attacking it. Mr.. Roose-
velt is not threatening the use Of
ormies or navies and Japan is much