Evening star., 1937-09-05
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

|THE United States interests in
the Pacific, the economic and
cultural work OF generations
a Of Americans, will not be al
lowed to disappear simply because the
military dictatorship in Toxic wants
to dominate the Asiatic mainland.
Washingtons attitude, already made
known to all the governments con-
cerned, continues a national policy
established in 1882 by former Secre-
tary of State Henry L. Stimson, when
Japanese armies were engaged in TAX
ing the rich Manchurian province
from China.
One difference between the Stim-
son and the Hull policies is that the
present Secretary of State is less spec
tacular than his predecessor and his
statements are intended not for pub
lie effect, but for the serious consid-
Grafton of other governments.
The second difference between 1882
| and 1887 is that today the United
States can talk to the "robber barons"
with an assurance that five years ago
was impossible. At that time the
United States Navy was formidable
only on paper. The destroyers and
the submarines were old and obso-
lete; only few of the new London
treaty cruisers were commissioned
and the crews aboard the American
warships were demoralized as re-
suit OF the economy policy of that
periods administration, which had re-
duced the efficiency of the Navy to a
distressing minimum This was bet
ter known in Japan than it was in
this country. 1t was even a shock to
Secretary Stimson to hear from the
lips OF Admiral William Pratt. then
chief Of naval operations, that the
fleet was ready to make the supreme
sacrifice, but it had no chance against
the japanese.
There's No Wavering.
The present policy of the United
States was enunciated by Secretary
Hull on July l6, two days after the
japanese began their aggression into
North China, and is contained in the
"a principles OF relations between civ
1llzed communities, applicable to the
whole world.
Nothing is farther from the minds
OF administration leaders than to pro-
woke an incident or offend japanese
suscepubilities.
At the same time there is no way
erlng in the determination of the
President and Mr.. Hull not to toler-
ate any infringement of American
rights In the Far East. These rights
are going to be preserved regardless
OF what Japan may think or do. This
principle was aptly versed many years
ago:
I'VE don't want to fight, but by
lingo if We do,
we've got the ships, we've got the
men, we've got the money, too."
For the time being diplomatic pres
sure is IN order. The American Am
oassador in Toxic is plainly telling
japanese authorities that a repetition
OF the Manchurian affair will not be
tolerated. From diplomatic "explana-
lions the Government may be COM
pelleo 10 go step farther-in the
shape OF some sort of a demonstra-
tion-a parade to impress upon all
concerned that this country must be
reckoned with and will no longer con-
tent itself with empty gestures.
Japan's Promises No Good.
FOR the last five years the Secre-
tary OF State has been pointing out
asslduously to all the nations of the
world that there is a road to peace
that an economic disarmament must
TAKE place and that the peoples will
be less bellicose if the wheels of in
ternatlonal trade are once more set
IN motion. Like many evangelists,
Mr. Hull was frequently held in ridi-
cule for these ideas. Manv foreign
diplomats rather stunned him because
they were tired of hearing the same
OLD economic sermon when We want
to talk facts"
secretary Hull recognizes that his
chances of bringing about an eco
nomlc and military disarmament are
extremely slim just now. But that
mas no bearing on his definite stand
on the Far Eastern situation,
In that area our rights have been
trampled under the feet of the JAP
anese soldiery. Wherever the Jan
anese government has established its
domination the principles of equal
opportunity have been strangled. In
Manchukuo. especially American busi-
ness men have been bounded out by
the japanese, despite the solemn
promises of the Toxic government
that the open-door policy would be
respected. The administration, how
ever, is not seeking to make an issue
OF the wrongs the Toxic government
mas been doing us during the last
1our years. 1t is looking forward. It
realizes that the occupation of the
principal Chinese provinces where our
tradesmen and our educators have
established outposts for two genera
lions are once more threatened and
that the japanese governments prom
lses to respect the rights and the
privileges enjoyed by American citi-
zens canont be relied upon. The
precedents established in Manchuria
and Jehol are suf1icient to justify this
skepticism.