The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-07-27

lSlaTOS. lHc fHlupplneS are COT. sidered by many authorities to lie directly in the path of Japan's southward expansion in the Pacific.
 It was understood that senate vot- Ing was delayed on some of the pending bills proposing embargoes and other economic penalties against Japan because some senators doubt- ed the legality of such moves in the light of American treaty obliga- tions. The abrogated treaty stip- ulated that there shall be no re- strictions by either nation upon the commerce of the other which is not equally applied to the commefce of all other nations.
 Hull removed the basis for such legal doubts. His action leaves no trade treaty obligations whatever with Japan after the expiration of the six months notice.
 Roosevelt Approves
 There was no doubt that he acted with the complete approval of MT. Roosevelt who has advocated strong measures, chiefly economic sanc- tions, against so-called aggressor na- tions.
 Hull has echoed the presidents words and earlier iyesterday warned that If the world armament race, especially in Europe, continues at the present pace 1t will have seri- ous repercussions on United States domestic economy and the general business situation.
 OfficialS could not recall another instance in recent history when this country has abrogated commercial treaty with a friendly nation.
 But abrogatlon of the treaty cul- minated more than 25 years of in- termittent friction with Japan on racial, territorial, military and naval and economic questions.
 Treaty Violation Charged
 American officials charge tha. Japan has violated the nine power treaty guaranteeing the territorial and political integrity of China the Kellogg -Briand pact outlawine war as an instrument of national policy; and even the 1911 treaty of commerce and navigation, just de- nounced. They also charge that Japan has discriminated against American shipping, products, na- tionaS and interests, and treaty rights in the Japanese occupied areas of China.
 Various public officials, civic and patriotic organizations in this coun- ' try have repeatedly declared that Japan would have been unable tt prosecute her undeclared war fir China without cotton, oil scrar iron. and other strategic war ma. terials purchased here, or without the cash received for silk. Silk i. Japan's greatest cash crop, and the United States regularly takes more than three-fourths of its crop.
 Regarded As Threat
 Any move to restrict either wal materials or cash -for-silk would al. most certainly be interpreted bS Japan,s officials as a threat to thell military machine. American official, are aware of this, since the warn. ing has been repeatedly sounded ,ir congress and elsewhere since 103. that an embargo was very close to if not quite, an act of war.
 Notice of abrogation of the treat, came at the height of American naval construction which, by 1942 is designed to give the Unitet States a navy "second to none". I also followed completion of plan for construction of outlying ai land naval bases in the Pacific to de fend the Panama canal.
 Although never officially admit ted, most of this preparedness fl the Pacific sprung from Japan's in vasion of Manchuria in September 1881. Henry L. Stimson, then sec retary of state. called Japan's attep ton to her obligations under inter national treaties, and sought sup port of the League of Nations [ stop Japan's military adventure Il Asia.
 Everyone Was @Ducking" l. The league vaccilated and floun dered. Great Britain and Franc side stepped. Stimson warned tn league that # one nation was per mitted with impunity to disreear' its oblIgations. the whole peae treaty structure of the world mus collapse.
 suseestions of application Q economic sanctions against Japai