Evening star., 1939-09-08
War Confronts j. ).
With Complications in
Orient, Officials Fear
Portents Arising Thot
World War Experience
May Be Repeated
By the Associated Press.

May Be RePeoted
By the Associated Press.
AS the eyes of the world focus on
Europe, the eyes Of some Of the
highest officials here are turning to
the Far East, in the belief this coun-
try will be confronted with major
problems there as result of Eu-
ropes war.
Already portentous signs have
risen in the Orient that indicate
Americas experiences in the Far
East during the World War may, in
Dispatches state Japan has re-
quested the European belligerents to
withdraw their armed forces from
the Japanese-o occupied territory in
China. The only belligerents with
armed forces there are Britain and
France, with whom Japan has had
trouble throughout her war with
China.
Japan Acts Swiftly.
Further dispatches say Japan has
notified the major powers, including
the United States, that she will be
responsible for maintaining neu-
trality in China.
1t would seem Japan is waiting no
longer this time than she did in the
World War to press home her ad-
vantages while other great powers
l. iS1 hn n
volved in the Occident.
What happened in the World
War?
Japan first swept the German
Far Eastern tCaroline) Islands into
her bin. The islands, now under
japanese mandate, have strategic
naval value.
She then occupied the German
concessions in China.
Next, within year after the out
break of the conflict, she presented
China an ultimatum embodying 81
drastic demands that would, in
effect, have made China Japanese
protectorate. Though Japan en-
joined silence. President Yuan
Shih-kai of China let the demands
leak out.
Bryan's Warning to Toxic.
Japan felt that the field was all
her own. Britain, France and
Russia had their hands full ir
Europe. Germany was isolated. The
United States was in disputes with
Germany and Mexico.
But Secretary of State William
Jennings Bryan directed strong
note to Japan telling her the United
States could not regard with in
difference the assumption of politi.
cal. military or economic domino.
ton Of China by foreign power.
And at the same time American
diplomats in China encouraged tina,
nation to resist the original de.
mands.
Japan considerably modified hel
demands and they were accepted by
China. Even then Secretary Bryar
csbled both nations that this Gov.
ernment could not recognize any
agreement that impaired American
treaty rights in China. Chinese ter.
ritorial or political integrity or ths
open door.
May Ask U. 8. Withdrawal.
Today Japan is not the ally o.
Great Britain, as she was in 1914
,or thu dan1o rad an AMI, ~ = AVN. a >, =,
She has proclaimed her neutrality
She occupies an important portion
of China. Her aims at this junctur'
seem to be addressed not directly tt
China but to the foreign powers
with interests there
The belligerency of Great Britain
and France gives her the occasion
for asking for the removal of theil
forces, military and naval, in China
on the plea of protecting the neu
trality of that country. But ther'
is no doubt in official quarters herr
that If Britain and France with
draw. the United States, Italy ant
Portugal, the only other powers hav
ing armed forces in China. will b.
asked to follow suit. And official
here do not believe this Government
would comply with such demand
Significantly Of the American at
titude is the action just taken a
Kulangsu, International Settlemen
at Annoy. Some months ago tn
japanese landed AZ bluej jackets ther
with the explanation that the,
would protect Japanese property
The United States, Britain ant
France thereupon each landed 4
men a day or so later. AS Britain
and France declared war on Ger
many, they withdrew their forces a
Kulangsu. But the American blue
Jackets remain-they and the Jap
anese. And there is every indica
ton they will be kept there indefl
nitely.