The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-07-19
OUR QUARTER DECK DIPLOMAT
IN CHINESE AREA HANDLES
SITUATION in FINE MANNER
BY commander L. p. LOVETTE
United States Navy
written for The Associated Press

WfA011NAT1ON, July 1S.--
About as years ago. a Monsieur
de Galleries wrote a handbook
for ambassadors entitled How
Ito Negotiate with Sovereigns."
AT one place, he said. in effect,
! that stuffed shirts in diplomatic
roles served for ostentatious dis
play by parading wealth and
carrying great names to swanky
gathering"
And he added:
But when affairs have to be
negotiated: a man is needed, not
an idol"
The United States has had such
man in Admiral HI. E. YernelL,
commands in-chief Of the Ash
attic fleet, the officer charged with
the protection of American ma
tionals and their property.
The navy is an independent
branch and not subject to orders
of the Department of State, al
J though that department formu-
lates and interprets matters of
major national policy Neverthe-
less, American ambassadors,
ministers and consuls often have
to act in concert with naval of
ficers.
| The cooperation of state and
navy officials in China has been
a splendid example Of team
work From the very beginning
of the Sino-Japanese war, Adj
lmiral Yarnell has considered iii
his paramount duty to protect
h United States nationals and
United States possessions. In
close cooperation with astute
Ambassador Nelson Johnson and
other officials, and with a naval
force often dispersed in far-flung
outposts, the Admiral has insisted
i with business, firmness and dis
erection, upon the preservation of
American rights and the prestige
of his country This was no mean
job to accomplish without threat
1 or buster.
/ Treaties Overheard
The admiral knows, as we all
know, that the disarmament
treaties have gone by the board.
And that so has the Nine Power
4 treaty of February, 1922. which
reiterated the principle of the
Open Door and bound the sigma
tories tof which Japan was one)
to respect the independence and
THE territorial and administrative
Integrity of China.
| The admiral was confronted
with a great military power on
the march. And, to confuse mat
tiers more. China was pursuing
1.-THE ''escorched earth policy"
Idynamiting and burning during
the mass retreat. The admiral
met this state of affairs with
equanimity.
! 1t was Admiral Yarnell's duty
to conform to his governments
position as enunciated by Secre-
tary Hull: This country cons
family and consistently advocates
maintenance of peace. We advo-
cate abstinence by all nations
from use of force in pursuit of
policy and from interference in
4 the internal affairs of other ma
tions.
/ We advocate faithful observ-
ance Of international agree
ments.
The nationalist of western
powers were nervous and in some
cases panicky. Huge investments
were going up in smoke: Ameri-
can women and children had to
be evacuated; shipping had to be
Communicated. But amid the
great chaos in the Orient Adj
miral Yarnell stood firm.
/ Studies Books And Men
The admiral meant what he
said when, in September, 1887, he
informed all commanding officers
of the Asiatic fleet: Naval yes
sells viii be stationed in ports
where American citizens are con-
centrated and will remain there
until it is no longer possible or
necessary TO protect them, or UNI
til they have been evacuated"
/ IN regard to Japan's June warn
ing for vessels and nationals of
third powers to evacuate Swa-
tow, Admiral Yarnell replied that
United States naval vessels would
remain as long as American citi-
zens were in need of protection
The U. S. Navy stayed on the
job.
Admiral YarnelI is well fitted
for his duties.
His profound interest in the
Far East commenced during the
Philippine insurrection and the
Boxer rebellion when he was
Iserving ii the Orient as young
Iufficer. BY study Of men and
books. he has acquired q vast
. ftsr.d If irafnrrtntfns. 81. Asia