Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-02

washington is clearing the decks for
action in the Far East. For the time
being that action will be restricted to
strong diplomatic attitude, leaving
Japan no illusions as to what this Gov
eminent will do if the Japanese military
interferes with American treaty rights
in China. Ambassador Kensuke Hori-
nouchi was told in plain language last
week by Secretary Hull that this Gov
eminent will brook no interference from
Japan. He was automatically informed
that the old game of the Toxic foreign
office, pleading ignorance and apollo
giving for the deeds of the military on
the Asiatic mainland, was a thing of
the past.
In the meantime, the State Depart
ment has decided to publish, at an early
date, the reports of the American con-
sular and diplomatic agents in China
dealing with the outrages perpetrated
on American citizens by the Japanese
soldiery since the fall of Marking The
American Embassy at Toxic, following
the customary diplomatic routine, asked
Japan's permission to publish the corre-
spondence between the two governments
The Toxic government indicated that
1t would rather leave that exchange of
notes unpublished. Therefore the State
Department considers itself free to give
to the American public the contents of
the reports of the consular officers from
various parts of China These have here
tofore been kept strictly confidential be-
cause they are said to contain such in
dignities that their publication would
have aroused public opinion at time
when the administration believed that
our relations with Japan could be mend
ed. At this time the State Department
Is convinced that despite the pleasant
attitude OF the japanese toward the
Americans in Tientsin, we will eventually
have to share the fate of other West
ern nations. Because of this conviction
1t has decided to let the public judge how
conciliatory-the word weak is not pleas
Ing to the State Department-the adj
ministration has been in its dealings
with the japanese officials.
Sitter Attitude Ordered.
Since June 81 Admiral Harry Yarnall,
commander in chief of the American
forces in the Far East, has been given
instructions to deal sternly with any at
tempt on the part of the japanese to
interfere with the treaty rights of Amer
lean citizens in the Chinese ports which
are now under japanese domination
Heretofore Yarnell was considered by
the State Department as fire eater, and
his immediate superiors in Washington
have been approached more than once
by that department to curb Yarnells
impulses. These were merely the i'm
pulses OF naval officer who is asked
to do job on the basis of certain rules
which have been in effect for the last
30 years. Yarnell had to accept certain
things which he considered humiliating
because he was told that if he went as
far as he desired, he would not have
the backing of the State Department.
These orders have now been changed.
There will be no more turning of the
other cheek in China.
There are two predominant factors
which have brought about this new
situation. One is the conviction of the
State Department that the japanese
navy which, while playing second fiddle
only to the army still has the ear of the
Emperor, wants to avoid at any price
serious friction with the United States
The second factor is that the American
Ambassador, Joseph Grew, who is now
spending a vacation in America. has
convinced President Roosevelt and his
chief advisers that strong attitude on
the part of this country is the onlv con-
ceivable means of avoiding open HOSTILE
ties between Japan and the Western
powers in the Far East
Secretary Cordell Hull is convinced
that the offer of mediation between
Britain and Japan which has so far
been refused by Toxic can succeed ONLY
If the Japanese army realizes the impl-
cations of an open conflict between
Japan and Britain in the Far East 1t
is not question of pulling the chest
nuts out of the fire for the British EN-
pire. it is pointed out in Washington
1t is merely question of self-preserva-
ton and safeguarding Americas inter-
ests in territory where our citizens,
unless duly protected, can be subjected
to determinations and indignities typi-
cal Of the Oriental races when they are
on the loose.
Army Dominates Policy.
The foreign policy of the Japanese
government is dictated these days al
most exclusively by the army and espe-
cially by the Kwantung army. The for
eign Office is called derisively by the
Japanese generals 1.-THE Department for
International Apologies" The foreign
secretary and his assistants are not in
formed of actions the army intends to
take. They know what happens only
after 1t has happened and they are en-
deavoring to mend things as we'll as pos
sible, in accordance with international
usages.
The Tientsin incident was developed
By the military only after the foreign
ONCE had given up all hope for an i'm