Evening star., 1939-11-26
Pittman 10 Renew
Efforts for Move
Against Japan
Will Press Resolution
Authorizing Embargo
Unless Views Change
Ry ]. A. OTEARY.

BY ]. A. OTEARY.
Chairman Pittman Of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee served
notice last night he will make new
effort to obtain congressional action
this winter on his resolution to au-
thorize an embargo against Japan
unless conditions in the Orient
change materially in the meantime.
His statement strengthened in
dicatfons that American policy in
the Far East will be live issue at
the approaching session. 1t came
on the heels of a suggestion from
two Republican members of the
Foreign Relations Committee
Senators Borah of Idaho and
Vandenberg of Michigan-a few days
ago that the United States should
try to work out a new trade pact
with Japan to take the place of the
commercial treaty of 1911, which is
due to expire January 26 in accord
ance with notice given by the State
Department in July.
Il see no reason why the Govern
ment should change its attitude
with regard to Japan" said Senator
Plttman. The conditions are now
the same as they were, if not more
aggravating, than at the time our
Government denounced the Treaty
OF 1911 with Japan.
No Question of Neutrality.
"The bill that I introduced does
not provide statutory embargo. 1t
simply grants to the President the
power Of retaliating against any gov
ernment, party to the Nine-Power
Treaty, who violates the rights of
our citizens in China under such
treaty. There is no question OF
neutrality involved in the matter
1t simply proposes to grant to the
President powers he does not possess
and which are possessed by every
other government party to such
Nine-Power Treaty.
II am rather surprised that there
appears to be any change of atti-
tude upon the part of members OF
the Foreign Relations Committee in
view Of the fact that I know of nc
changes in conditions that would
justify this change of attitude.
was under the impression at the
time my bill was tentatively under
consideration by the committee that
in spirit, it had the approval o1
every member of the committee.
The objection raised at the time
by members of the committee wa.
that the authorization of an EN-.
barge against any of such power.
might be construed as a violation ot
the favored-nation clause contained
in the treaty of 1911 with Japar
and with the other governments
parties to the nine-power treaty.
LAS an evidence of this view anc
to remove such possible criticism
Senator Vandenberg offered res.
olution recommending the denounc,
ing of the 1911 treaty with Japan
Action on Senator Vandenberg'
resolution was obviated by the de-
uouncing of the treaty by the execu
tive department."
Inviting Trouble Opposed.
Senator Vandenberg emphasized
in his comment on the question 6
few days ago that he favored abro.
cation of the old treaty, only Il
leave this Government free, to nego.
tlate a new one. If a new agree.
ment cannot be worked out, it woult
then be time enough ito talk bel
ligerently." the Michigan Senate
contended, but he felt it would b,
inviting trouble to let the oil
treaty die without first attempting
to solve differences by agreement
Senator Borah had indicated h.
would approach the question of
new treaty as commercial problem
only, and took the view that nothin,
would be accomplished by refusin,
to work out a commercial agree
ment merely because this countr
might be out of sympathy with Jap
anese objectives in China.
In his statement last night. Sen
ator Pittman frowned on any polio
Of "appeasement" toward Japan a
this time. In this connection tn
Nevadan said:
Il assert that I personally de
. sire the re-establishment of peace
full conditions in the Orient, the re
moval of prejudicial actions agains
!. our citizens, and the re-establish
ment Of commerce and trade in tn
spirit of the Nine-Power Treaty.
see no occasion for acts of appease
, ment or even expressions of ap
peasement on behalf of the Unite
States toward Japan. We nigh
even be charged now with havin
been guilty of appeasement UP t
the present time. However, I per
sonally long so much for peace tina
I do not desire to make any criti
cism along this line.
Provisions of Resolution.
This is no time, in my opinion
for our Government to take tn
Initiative in any foreign matter.
No one can even guess what wi
happen tomorrow. No one coul
have the temerity to prophesy wha
alliances may grow up in the nea
future. This opinion of mine ais
applies to trade treaties
The Pittman resolution, now i,
the Foreign Relations COMMITTEES
provides that whenever the Presi
dent finds that any government
which is a party to the Nine-Powe
Treaty is endangering the lives @
American citizens, or depriving sue
citizens Of legal rights, he may b
proclamation restrict or prohibit ex
ports from this country to sue
government. The ban could be an
piled to arms and implements Q
war, or to such basic materials a
irnyo cfnol ni1 ooI co~o~