Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-02
Toxic Is Warned Armed Might
Will Guard US. Rights in China
Soft Policy Stiffens as Administration Becomes
Convinced Japans Navy Would Retreat
if Threatened
By Constantine Br0icn.


mediate settlement of the extra terri
torial question which is irking the Jap
anese army leaders. They want to put
an end to the special privileges of for
eigners in the treaty ports in order that
they may complete, without handicap,
the conquest of China.
The japanese navy is playing only
subordinate role. This time, however,
it was consulted. From the purely
strategic point Of view, it could see no
harm if the army decided to twist the
British lions tail once more The Jap
anese admirals know that in view of the
threatening conditions in Europe the
British navy cannot undertake an expe-
dltlon to the Far East to meet the Jap
anese fleet. They also know that eco
nomic retaliations, such as the closing
of British ports in Asia to japanese
goods, would constitute an act of war
which would be welcomed by the JAP
anese sailors.
In conversation which Ambassador
Cralgle had with an official of the for
elgn Office, he was told bluntly that the
japanese government cannot be made
responsible for the inconvenience which
British citizens suffer in Tientsin, thanks
to the mistakes of their own authorities.
The blockade is merely a police measure
taken by the military and the Toxic gov
eminent cannot interfere. But an inter-
dlction to the selling of japanese goods
IN the territories of his Britannia mai
esty must be construed as an act of war.
since it would be an action undertaken
by one government against another gov
eminent. The British Ambassador
cabled this report to London, with the
result that it slowed down the stern
measures the British cabinet had de-
clded to take against Japan
Fearful of America.
But while the navy is convinced that
it can blast the way for japanese trade
in the British ports in the Pacific and
even in the Indian Ocean, the same navy
is worried lest America be involved in
the conflict in the Far East. 1t is known
in Washington that the chief of staff of
the imperial navy went so far as to say
IN cabinet meeting that an American
intervention at the present time would
mean the loss of the war in China.
Hence the unusual politeness of the
japanese soldiers toward anybody in
Tientsin who has the red American pass
port and the almost embarrassing
courtesy of the Japanese toward the
$50 marines who live just outside the
British concession.
The war games of the American Navy
last spring were followed with keen in
terest by the Japanese Despite the Of
fetal denials of the Navy Department,
the Japanese have had the opportunity
to obtain more than a cursory idea of
what the American Navy is doing 1t is
quite possible that the naval high COM
mand itself was not opposed to Japans
obtaining an inside view of the modern
American Navy.
Whatever the circumstances may be,
there is no doubt that the japanese naval
staff has had good look at our Navy in
action and the results have not been
heartening-for the japanese. They
were surprised at the cohesion between
the various units of the combat forces:
they were astonished at the remarkable
gunnery of the American sailors and
were more astonished at the clocklike
collaboration between the surface units
of the fleet and its air arm.
President Roosevelt and his collabora-
tors are still striving to ease the tension
which prevails throughout the world.
Mr.. Roosevelt failed regarding the Euro
pean branch of the axis. But he intends
to take full advantage of the Far East
ern situation and prevent violent out
break there. How right he and his adj
visers are in the belief that strong at
titude on the part of this country will
force the japanese to find an elegant
way to back out, only the future will tell
But there is no doubt that the Toxic
leaders do not wish to antagonize the
United States at this time and cause an
effective American intervention They
believe that this country can be pushed
out of the Far East without trouble, pro-
vided the other Westerners have left.
The administration believes that our
stake in the Far East is too great to per-
NIT the Japanese to disregard it. 1t
also believes that a compromise with
Japan is not possible because our aims
are so opposed to theirs. We believe in
equal opportunity in China: they believe
that China should be japanese de-
tendency On this point our Govern
ment is determined to stand its ground
and insist on the treaty rights obtained
from the Chinese government. Accord
ing to international law, these rights
cannot be abrogated except by the Chi
nese government itself. Until then the
United States will tolerate no further
interference on the part of the japanese
armed forces.
Whether the Kwantung military will
take heed of this earnest warning de-
ponds on how much they trust Their
agents here and how seriously they take
Uncle Sans bark. The Japanese diplo-
mats seem to think that the barking
period is over and that unless Japan is
careful there is going to be some biting
In the ofdng and elsewhere.