Evening star., 1939-10-19
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

by CONSTANTINE BROWN.
Ambassador Joseph Grew spoke
In Toxic today straight from the
shoulder. Recently returned to his
post from Washington where he had
ample opportunity to discuss the Far
Eastern situation with President
Roosevelt and Secretary of State
Hull, he told the Japanese people in
= public speech before the Japanese
American Society that this country
cannot possibly agree with what the
Japanese militarists are now doing
in China.
The Importance of Ambassador
Crews speech lies in the fact that
recently the Japanese have made
serious efforts-although not direct
apprehension an improvement OF
the American-Japanese relations.
The Toxic leaders are at loss to
understand the present world situa-
ton. 1t goes beyond the depths Of
the Oriental mind-and for that
matter beyond any kind of mind.
They see treaties and agreement
signed on sound political basis
with the Germans upset. They feel
that the appetite of Russia is grow
ing, and If the axis wins the war, the
Russians may have ambitions on the
puppet state of Manchukuo. Japan
is friendless. It's leaders have man.
aged to antagonize every power in
the world-including their anti
comintern partners, the Germans.
Despite the cordial relations between
the general stats. the German busi-
ness people in China and Manchukuo
were heavily gypped by their Japa-
nese friends.
4 4 \ 4
Now that the German-Russian
agreement appears to be definite
offensive and defensive political and
military alliance and Britain and
France are heavily engaged in Eu-
rope, the Toxic leaders are turn
ing towards the United States in
the hope of gaining Americas
friendship.
In recent weeks there has been
more than one unofficial approach
from agents of the Japanese gov
ernment to find out whether this
country would be willing to extend
friendly hand to the much-puz-
zled Japanese.
Suggestions were made to official
quarters that Japan was willing to
meet us halfway for the establish
ment of stable government in
China, a kind of cross between
the dummies Of the Toxic govern
ment and the representatives of
the Chinese business people. Some of
these Japanese unofficial spokes-
men went so far as to say that the
Japanese government would leave
the question of government in
China to President Roosevelt's ar
bitration provided Chang Kai-shek
and his nationalists are left out
of the picture.
AS these approaches were indirect
and unofficial, the answer given to
Tokios emissaries has so far been
unofficial, too. The tenor of these
answers was the same, however: Get
out of China and we will talk to you.
Ambassador Grew has now made
this answer somewhat palmer, or
at least dressed 1t in the authority
of his position. Whether Japan will
follow the policies set down by its
military leader, which Is to move
southwards while Britain and France
are engaged in . deadly struggle
in Europe, or whether they are
inclined to follow a more reasonable
policy based on improved American
Japanes. relations, Is q matter
which the future will tell.
Despite the seriousness of the
situation in Europe, the British
parliamentary opposition is not
mincing its words when 1t criticizes
Mr.. Chamberlain for the present
conduct o. the war.
The members of the opposition
voicing the sentiment of many peo-