Evening star., 1938-02-21

Many influential EngllShmen still w1St.
fully remembered the Anglo-Japanese
alliance abrogated after the Washing
ton Conference only because American
friendship then seemed more valuable
to you than the Japanese friendship.
And there was always the chance-a
forlorn one as events have proved
that Japan would divide up the swag
with you.
Then came Ethiopia. As Marshal
De Bonos book clearly shows, the
1talo- Ethiopian war was planned
nearly three years in advance OF the
fact. We flnd it hard to believe that
the British government did not know
Of it, especially since obvious prepara-
tions had to be made in East Africa.
The Ethiopian Precedent.
Still. when the war began your gov
ernment became highly indignant.
Then We heard Of the Hoare-Laval
proposals, which were howled down
by the British people.
After that a great British fleet was
massed in the Mediterranean and at
both ends of the Suez Canal where
presumably Italian ingress and egress
to and from Africa could have been
stopped. And there the feet remained,
flags flying and cooks furiously brew
ing tea for the sailors OF the King,
while the Italian troopships passed
under the muzzles of the mightiest
aggregation Of naval guns on earth.
Then China. But what a difference
In the British attitude in China be-
tween 1882 and 1888!
This time vital British interests are
involved. The large British trade with
China is at q standstill. The whole
area Of Shanghai and the rich Yangtze
Valley. that you dominated CONNER
cially, Is about to become q province of
Japan. Now you are protesting Japan's
actions. Now you fear that British
capital will no longer have an outlet
in China. And you 60 farther. You
build the great Singapore base, and a
fleet to be based on Singapore that will
be q match perhaps for the entire
japanese Navy. Why? Because you
fear that vital British interests may
be attacked. What are those interests?
The British colonies and dominions
Nothing else, We take it, is q vital
British interest.
United States Protests Also.
The United States is also protesting
to Japan about China, but on very
different grounds.
If We stand for the open door in
China that does not mean a door open
only to the United States, but to all
nations. Let the best man win. On
the other hand.s Japan is today our
third largest customer, with a volume
of import-exports amounting now to
more than a quarter of a billion dol
lars. Plainly, then, our Chinese policy
may tend to lose us the friendship of
valuable customer, Japan. for the
sake Of preserving certain principles,
not interests, that we cherish.
And this brings us to the crux OF
the question. The American people
and quite rightly in my opinion-will
not fight to preserve the British EN-.
pire.
1t may be, Mr.. Minister. that your
government was militarily or politi-
cally impotent to take any effective
steps in Austria. But We do not
forget that on similar occasions from
1891 to date, when you could have
taken effective steps. you did nothing.
And now, in the case of Austria,
forced to capitulate under direct mill
tary duress, you do not, even for the
sake of the record, protest.
You merely write Austria or
We observe this fact. Mr.. Minister
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