Evening star., 1938-01-14
No Scuttle From China.

No Scuttle From China.
Coincldent with the defeat of our
peace-at-any- price brigade con the war
referendum, Secretary Hull has taken
occasion to issue ringing pronounce
ment which reads another wholesome
lesson to the isolationist group. In
letter to Vice President Garner replying
to Senate resolution requesting the
latest available data on American inter-
ests IN China and the size OF the United
States forces now there, the chief of the
State Department in calm but forceful
terms renounces scuttle- le-and-run policy
Tor Americans in the Far East Judge
Hulls manifesto is nicely timed to re-
ject fresh japanese pretensions to over
1ordship of Shanghai, including the In
ternational Settlement and all the
covenanted rights which foreign powers
and their nationals have long enjoyed
there.
Ever since the outset of Japans ag-
gression in China, timorous souls in this
country have shrieked for recall of
American business representatives, mis-
slonar1es, shipping, warships and troops
on the ground that their presence is an
invitation to embodiment of the United
States in the war. The Roosevelt ad-
mlnlstration. the Secretary of State
makes plain, has no sympathy with this
stay-at-home hue and cry.
Here is the Hull doctrine, which NAV
come to take its place as no less funda-
mental statement of American policy in
the Far East than John Hays Open
Door announcement:
The interest and concern of the
United States in the Far East, in Eu-
rope and in situations on this continent
are not measured by the number of
American citizens residing in particu-
lar country at particular moment, or
by the amount of investment of Amer
lean citizens there, or by the volume of
trade. There is broader and much
more fundamental interest-which is
that orderly process in international re-
lationships be maintained. Referring
expressly to the situation in the Far East,
an area which contains approximately
half the population of the world, the
United States is deeply interested in sup
porting by peaceful means influences
contributory to preservation and en-
couragement of orderly processes"
As to Sino-Japanese conditions, Secre-
tary Hull points out that 1.-The Govern
ment is affording appropriate protection
and assistance to American nationals,
as this Government always has done.
1t is also upholding principles, as it has
always done. 1t has asked and is asking
that the rights of the United States and
the rights of our people be respected, and
at the same time it has sought and is
seeking to avoid involvement of this
country in the disputes of other coun-
tries"
citizens in China, compared with ap-
proximately $4,000 when the war began.
To protect them there are 528 marines
at Peiping, GA soldiers at Tientsin and
2,555 marines at Shanghai. That is a
small enough force to safeguard Amer
lean investments which totaled s132,-
100000 in 1888, in addition to about $4o.-
100000 worth Of missionary and charity
properties But far beyond the intrinsic
worth of these relatively insignificant
material values is the necessity for the
United States to do its powerful bit to
preserve and encourage orderly process
es." We cannot do that by turning tail
and running away from the Far East.
even If that is exactly what Japan would
like all the Western peoples to do.