Evening star., 1939-01-01

Japan'S increasing exclusion OF
American commerce and mis-
Sionaries from China brought
protest in OCTOBER from Sscre-
tary of State Hull against such
restriction OF American GctnDtieS.
Japdn'S reply November ~ 1raS
characterized as unsatisfactory
by Secretary HUI, UhO mann
tained Japan could not close the
open door" IN CHINA.
By the Associated Press.
A point-blank refusal to recognize
Japan's effort to establish special
privileges for herself in war-devas-
tated China brought to close yes
terday one of the most hectic years
In the history of United States for
eign affairs.
Standing firmly upon the 40-year-
old principle of the open door" in
China, this government took the
lead in opposing japanese plans to
include China in a so-called new
order program in East Asia,
through single handed treaty abro-
cation.
In its fortnight rejection of the
Japanese contention that ideas and
principles of the past no longer
were applicable to China, the State
Department served notice that it
PRESERVES all rights of the United
States as they exist and does not
give assent to any impairment of
any of those rights in China.
Hint of Future Action.
This reservation of rights is pos
sibly a preliminary to future action,
the nature of which only time and
the further development of United
States foreign policy can tell. This
might even enviSage eventual pro-
lection of American interests in
China by force, although there was
no belligerent tone in yesterdays
note.
Force was never used by this
country in the similar case of Man.
churias conquest by Japan in 1882,
At least, yesterdays action repre-
sents a warning in advance the
United States will never sanction
changes in China growing out of
Japan's present military lncurslon
there.
The American note was delivered
to the japanese foreign office by
Ambassador Joseph G. Grew on in
structions from Washington, in
which President Roosevelt con-
Cured. 1t was based upon obliga-
tions of the nine-poWer and other
treaties, to which the United States,
China and Japan are signators.
State Department officials said the
note was a fundamental statement
of the United States position, de-
signed to end the long series of pro-
tests and notes delivered to Toxic
since the present hostilities in China
started.
Other Powers Not Consulted.
The note was similar to the one
President Hoover directed be sent
both Japan and China on January
7, 1882, notifying those governments
"that the United States Govern
ment would not recognize any situa-
ton, treaty or agreement entered into
by those governments in violation OF
the covenants of treaties, which af-
fected the rights of our Government
or it's citizens in China" Out OF
this grew the on-recognitlon OF
Manchukuo, Japan'S puppet state
carved out of North China.
That note was accompanied by a
suggestion that other interested gov
ernments form a solid front in SIM
liar action. Yesterdays note to
Japan was sent without consultation
with other governments, officials
said, and carried no suggestion that
others act similarly.
The United States warned Japan
It would net approve of the latter
taking power into its own hands in
treaty protected China, but it left
the door open for Japan to propose
peaceful revision of treaties at any
time.
This Government insisted that
China and other powers whose
rights and interests were involved
must be included in discussion of
such proposals IF and when put
forward by Japan.
Japan Plans New Order.
Following her deep military in
roads into China, which have fire.
quently involved trampling upon
treaty y-recognized American rights
and interests there, Japan re-
Gently announced principles of the
past were inapplicable to condi-
tions of today and tomorrow" and
said she was devoting her energy
to establishment of a new order
based on genuine international JUS
tice throughout East Asia
Japan stated in note to the
United States November IS that, so
long as these points were under
stood, Japan has not the slightest
inclination to oppose the partici-
patton of the United States and
other powers in the great work of
reconstructing East Asia along all
lines of industry and trade"
The United States dealt sharply
with this qualified permission to
continue the enjoyment of tradi-
tional rights in China.
This Governments note said the
United States had always favored
treaty revisions through joint dis
Cussions, and that prior to disturb
ances in 1881 had been actively en-
gagged with other governments in
far-advanced negotiations for sur
render of eXtraterritorial rights in
China, such as Japan now has pro-
posed in its new order" program.
Policy Enunciated in 1899.
The United States had previously
expressed its apprehension that all
parts of Japanese-occupied China
would be turned into second Man.
chukuo, where, it was stated, a
large part of American enterprise
had been forced to withdraw be-
cause of japanese imposed prefer
enceS, in outright violation of