Evening star., 1938-03-20
FAR EAST CONFLICT
TRACED IN TALK
Dr.. tombstone Tells Alumni
of G. W. 1t Is Legacy of
World War.


presents the only possibility for the
United States and other nations to
take constructive steps toward bring
ing about peace between China and
Japan, Dean William G. Johnstone
jr,, of the Junior College Of George
Washington University told alumni
of the school yesterday.
Speaking before about 200 graduates
at luncheon at the Raleigh Hotel
under the auspices of the General
Alumni Association, Dr. Johnstone
pictured Japan as a nation faced with
tremendous economic burden in its
milltaristic quest for security; a ma
ton whose only real security can be
attained not by deciding 1t will deal
out justice according to its definition,
but by the active cooperative effort
of all nations interested in the Far
East dealing with their mutual prob
lens.
If We want peace" he declared.
"if we desire to take some constructive
step toward peace in the Far East we
must watch for an opportunity to
bring about complete settlement in
which mutual sacrifices are made"
While the war in the Far East has
been relegated to the background by
Hitler's annexation of Austria and
the Polish-Lithuanian dispute, it is
nevertheless Of extreme importance
to American interests, the speaker
declared.
Has Struggled for Security.
Since 1894, DR. Johnstone said, the
whole history of the Far East has
revolved around the aggressive policy
of Japan. In its quest for one OBJ
jective-economic and strategic Sc
curity-it has fought four wars since
1894, and is now engaged in fifth one.
The war in Manchuria and the
legacy of the World War he contin-
ued. They are an attempt OF the
extremist groups to attain the OBJ
jectives which they failed to gain IN
the World War period Their first and
present goal is to dominate China.
The second goal is to eliminate Rus
sia from Eastern Siberia. That IS
still in the future out no member Of
the japanese military believes war
with Russia can be avoided
As a result of her choice to use
force instead of cooperating with
other powers in attacking world eco
nonic problems, he said, Japan faces
a united, antagonistic China with
will to resistance; it faces a powerful
Russia that may decide at any mo-
ment to 90 to war to prevent Japa-
nese domination of China, and it faces
a tremendous economic burden. In
1881 the japanese public debt was
little over five billion yen. In 1897,
after six years spent in consolidating
her gains in Manchuria the public
debt has doubled to more than II
billion yen.
Concern of All Nations.
The only real period of international
security for all nations in the Far
East in modern times was from 1922
to 1890, under the Washington Con-
ference treaties. he continued, adding
that the success Of the Washington
Conference indicates the nations con-
cerned might have revised the Wash
ington treaties when conditions had
changed.
Security can no longer be achieved
by individual effort" DR.. Johnstone
said. For any one nation to attempt
to gain security by any action which
destroys the security of its neighbors
is the road to anarchy and war I'm
less We are willing to accept a world
Of anarchy, We must lose no oppor.
tunlty to re-establish the principle
that security for one nation must not
be at the expense of the security of
other nations, and that the security
OF each nation Is the concern of all
nations"
Letter From Noyes Is Read.
A letter from Theodore w. Moves,
senior member of the Board of Trus-
tees OF the university, to Hugh H
Clegg' president of the General Alumni
Association, was read to the as
semblage by DR.. Harry C. Davis. SER
retary OF the Board of Trustees. Ex-
pressing regret at being unable to at
tend, Mr.. Noyes, former president
OF tne alumni association, cited the
growth OF the student body and ma
terlal equipment of the university in
the last 46 years.
AS representative of the Ah,nn,
Association of 1892" he wrote ~
extend warmest, heartiest greetings
70 the association of 1888, with con-
eratulations upon the remarkable do.
Velopment in recent years under the
energetic leadership of President Mar
V'n OF donation of buildings like
those of Mrs. Strong and Mr.. tisner
ana OF a large fund donated bv
George Washington Memorial Asso-
cation, and in raising high our stand
ards Of education. as recognized bv
Phi Beta Kappa.
Let us all unite in fervent PRAYER
that the fine development of the last
nan century may be duplicated in
the years to come with the SPEEDY
result that our alma mater will in
every characteristic Of the modern
ideal university be unsurpassed in
the whole republic"
President Cloyd Heck Marvin also