Evening star., 1937-08-08
JAPAN'S MAILED FIST ENDS
PEACE ADVOCATES HOPES
Example, in Face of Intellectual Tactics
to Avoid War, May Touch Off Ger.
man Territorial Ambitions.

but the probabilities are now, as then, |
that his troops will remain at a re-
spectful distance from the japanese
forces. Chang is not ready yet. He
has made remarkable strides in the
consolidation of his position In the
south and in awakening a spirit OF
national unity in his country. But
his position is still precarious de-
feat at the hands of the japanese
might mean his downfall and plunge
What is left of China south of the
Many of his faithful generals are
looking for chance to take the Chi
nese dictators place, even if they
could only establish themselves as re-
gional dictators. Chinas manpoWer
is. of course, incomparably superior to
that of Japan. But modern warfare
makes it difficult for men with rifles
and large swords to fight against ma
chine guns, tanks, airplanes and poi
son gas. During the recent battle in
TientSin the Chinese troops, over
whelming in numbers. but lacking
modern equipment, were easily de-
feated by the $4,000 japanese regulars
possessing the latest instruments of
destruction
Furthermore, if Chang Kai-shek
were to declare war on he japanese
government-either officially or un-
officially-the japanese feet could be
rushed to Marking and Shanghai,
thus compelling the Chinese general
issimo to fight on three fronts. This
would be suicidal
West Looks on Helplessly.
Hence the Western powers, after
having admonished Toxic in the best
League of Nations style, after having
solemnly warned Japan through their
Toxic ambassadors not to use force
against the Chinese. are looking on
helplessly at the new rape which ia
pan is perpetrating on the Asiatic
mainland.
In Washington it is admitted that
there is nothing this Government
could do to prevent Japan from en-
ploying the strong-arm method to
complete the plans it has had as far
back as 1915 for the conquest of
Northern China. Mr. Roosevelt and
Mr. Hull do not intend to stick their
necks OUT as did Mr. Hoover and
Secretary Stimson in 1882. The jap
anese Ambassador at Washington and
the japanese premier in Toxic have
been advised urged and counseled"
to refrain from any acts of hostility,
but this time the Japanese Empire
has not been threatened with strong
measures. Washington realizes, never
theless, that the doctrine of nom
recognition of territories occupied by
force will not deter the general staff
in Toxic from taking these parts of
China, which are linked in the eyes
of the japanese leaders with the well
fare of their country.
The administration does not even
contemplate recognizing an actual
state Of warfare between China and
Japan, as it did at the outbreak of
the Italo-E Ethiopian hostilities. There
is no reason for that. Senator Pitt
man, the chairman of the Senate's
Foreign Relations Committee, made
it clear that the neutrality act must
be applied only when there is danger
of the United States becoming in
volved in an international conflict
This exigency apparently does not
exist in the present situation.
Would Embarrass Japan.
If the President were to proclaim
that a state Of war existed between
China and Japan the export of arms
and ammunitions to both belligerents
would Immediately be stopped. While
Japan would not suffer from such
an embargo, the Chinese would be
placed in serious difficulties, since
most of their war planes and tanks
are purchased in this country If
the President were to go step further
and place an embargo on certain ma
terials, such as scrap iron or cotton,
not only the Japanese but also the
American exporters, would suffer con-
siderably.
Hence, since an embargo would be
detrimental to all parties concerned
without in fact preventing the Jap
anese from executing their plans, there
is no reason for applying the neu-
trality law against the belligerents.
Would Waste Gesture.
International law upholds this de-
clsion of the administrati ton. While
in the Esthonian-I italian conflict two
sovereign nations were fighting against
each other, for the time being at
least, the japanese are not fighting
the established Marking government,
but the. Chinese troops and generals
in Northern China. So long as the
Nanking government does not declare
war on Japan or the forces of that
government are not engaged against
those Of the japanese government,
there is, from the point Of view of
international law, no actual state Of
war between the two countries.
But the administration seems to
have decided to refrain from adopting
an active attitude, even If such
situation were to occur. To make a
strong move would be to look for
trouble without a hope Of averting
trouble for ourselves or the Chinese.
The administration, seriously con-
cerned with what may happen in the
course of the next few weeks on the
other side of the Atlantic, does not
want to use the power of the neutrality
act as an empty gesture. It would
bring discredit on this instrument of
peace and international cooperation
without doing any good. And Mr..
Roosevelt does not believe in making
empty gestures in the field of inter-
| national affairs
(Copyrisht 1879
Corr11 onu Co~Ie CL:~