Evening star., 1937-09-12
IMPORTANCE OF SHANGHAI
FOR CHANG is POLITICAL
Chinese Expect Serious Occurrence at
international City May Bring
Foreign Intervention.

aged the administration to be sterner
than in the past.
But the President and the State
Department recognize that there is
a world of difference between disap-
proval on the part of American cit
izens of the robbery methods adopted
by Toxic in China, and definite COM
mitments which might lead to deep
involvement
U. S. Not Forcing Issue.
The Japanese government has been
told plainly that we do not want to
force an issue with Japan. that funda-
mental principle OF our policy is
peace. We have offered the Toxic
leaders way out OF the Shanghai
difficulty which would not cause any
loss to the sensitive Japanese face"
The State Department has suggested
that the United States and other
powers interested in Shanghai induce
Chang Kai-shek to withdraw his men
to a zone about so miles from the
present theater of operations. And
as soon as the Chinese regulars be-
gin their withdrawal the japanese
should do the same. The Japanese
retorted that they will not submit to
The answer was that this
was not a mediation in the proper
of the word, We and other
western powers have investments in
Shanghai amounting to 81 200, 900 900
and do not wish to risk loss of that
and our nationals. In this
suggestion we were acting as an inter-
ested third party
The japanese government replied
that they could not trust the Chinese.
When the western powers offered to
replace the Chinese troops with de-
tachmentS of the international force
in Shanghai, thus removing any sus-
picion OF treachery, the Japanese an
swered that they have to punish
We told them to do their
Furnishing somewhere else. There has
been no further word from the Japan
ese except the landing of new divi-
sions in the Shanghai area and new
bombardments damaging western
and killing American and
other nationals.
Direct Conflict Inconceivable.
In the minds of our best military
authorities a direct conflict with ia
pan is inconceivable. A naval action
alone Is considered insufficient and
combined naval and military action
is impossible. The inundated islands
which lie between Hawaii and the
Japanese islands are the strongest
barrier to an adventure which our
men consider as suicidal.
For a while it was believed here
hat the practically defunct League
'f Nations might conceivably attempt
10 stage a comeback and apply, at
he request of the Nanking govern
nent, article Is of the covenant.
which provides an economic and
blocade Of the aggressor. 1t
was half-heartedly applied with in
results against Italy
when she invaded Ethiopia. The in
timations from London and Paris
have put an end to such expectations.
Neither the French nor the British
wish to stick out their necks again.
Yet the danger OF a conflict between
the United States and Japan remains
So long as there is no Official war
between the Chinese and the japanese,
American trade will be carried on with
China as in the past. The Govern
ment is determined to protect the
American flag with all the might at
its disposal.
Navy TO Convoy Ships.
Admiral Harry Yarnell, the COM
mander in chief of the Asiatic fleet,
will convoy American cargo ships into
any Chinese port until an oficial
blockade is ordered by the Japanese
government. That Official blockade
must be preceded by s>formal declara-
tion of war, otherwise it is invalid.
These ships will be met at sea by
United States destroyers and the
Of these war units have
orders to brook no interference from
any source. They will not permit any
visit" from Japanese or Chinese
naval officers and the destroyers will
testify that they are legitimately n.y.
ing the American flag. 1t is quite as
conceivable that these merchantmen
carry war materials to the Chinese, as
they do to the japanese
1t is easily apparent, therefore, that
an arbitrary action on the part OF
some japanese naval commander may
create crisis. The situation con-
tinues to remain full of dynamite so
long as Shanghai remains the battle
field OF the two eastern belligerents.
Chang Kai-shek knows that and is
hurting his best forces to defend the
territory. He will either succeed in
throwing the Japanese into the sea
a doubtful outcome-or will create an
incident which would
somewhat lift the burden off his
shoulders.
(CopyrlRht. 1887