Evening star., 1939-07-29
Nippon Takes Notice

States diplomatic blitzkrieg-the
abrogation of the 1911 trade treaty
has been prompt, characteristic and
bitter. Prompt, because Toxic is
mindful of the immeasurable conse-
quences of an economic breach with
Japan's biggest buyer of her silk;
characteristic because our action is
resented In terms Of injured inno-
cence; and bitter, because even the
ruling military caste is conscious that
there is nothing it can do but view
with alarm step which the Wash
ington Government has taken in
meticulous pursuance of specified
treaty right.
The Japanese, Of course, are aware
that although the commercial treaty
does not die until January 26, 1910,
it is extremely likely at that time to
usher in not renewal legislation, but
law embargoing shipment of war
supplies to the island empire. That
contingency might be averted If the
:North China incident" is closed six
months hence, either by abandon
ment OF the attempt to subjugate the
Chinese or by the latter's inability to
prolong their resistance.
If Charge d'Affaires Suma is ac-
curately depicting to his superiors at
Toxic the effect on American public
opinion, he is assuring them that no
contemporary move by the Roosevelt
administration in the field of foreign
policy has met with quicker or more
unanimous approval. Even our most
vociferous isolationists have been
shocked into becoming acquies-
cence. Senator Borah regards the
abrogation notice as "a closed Incl
dent" and thinks nothing can be
gained by debating it." Incidentally,
not the least noteworthy aspect of the
State Departments step is that it was
taken without benefit of Senate "ad-
vice and consent" but wholly within
the Executives constitutional priv
ilege as arbiter of the Nations foreign
relations. The net result is an agree
able demonstration of our democratic
systems capacity in an emergency,
to act swiftly and decisively. Japan
has learned that even divided coun-
sells in Congress do not necessarily
handcuff the executive branch of this
Government when it is confronted
by such provocations as the japanese
army IN China has been Offering the
United States tor two years.
Amid typical recriminations in the
japanese press as to the "unfriendly"
and "unthinkable" character of our
abrupt action" one concrete pro-
posal of reprisal is Forthcoming.
Kokumin, organ of the army and
ultra-nationalistic elements, angrily
suggests that Japan should reply to
the United States RECKLESS act of
hostility" by abrogation OF the Nine
Power Treaty without further ado"
If there were more light and less
heat in Kokumin's editorial rooms,
it might have occurred to some one
there that ever since September,
1881, when Manchuria was invaded,
Japan has progressively been abro-
eating the Nine Power pact, which
pledged her and its other signatories
to respect the territorial and polit-
ical integrity of China and to "pro-
mote the intercourse between China
and other powers on the basis of
equality of opportunity"
Figures talk, especially trade fig
ures. Japan in the first five months
of 1889 bought $1S,0OO,OOO worth of
our cotton, $12,8OO,OOO worth of our
scrap iron and steel, $18,6OO,OO
worth of petroleum, $40 100000 worth
OF copper and $13,OOOOOO worth of
power driven machinery. Japan
would have been seriously hampered
in fighting China if, for any reason,
these quintessential American i'm
ports of war material had been shut
off.
During the same five months we
imported $32, 900 worth of Japan's
raw silk, some crab meat, tuna fish,
mink furs, cotton textiles, toys and
other n-essential wares, aggregat-
ing a total value of $5O25O, 900, as
COMPARED to the total of $o6 am nm
OF stuff Japan purchased from us.
When the hour OF showdown comes,
as it must sooner or later, it is not
hard to contemplate that the despoil-
ers of China will think twice and
thrice before giving the United States
coa-~'nued justification for blacklist
ing Japan in a market all but vital to
her economic existence.
Perpetual Pensioners