The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-08-15

law, is an .inoffensive method Of
lrepeal If the State Department had
renowned the treaty. that would
have implied we were definitely
on the verge of breaking off COM
, mercial relations with Japan, an
unfriendly act within range of war.
BOOSTERS BRITISH
A. At the same time, to prevent
Japan from taking it for granted
that the United States will not
retaliate for the abuse of Ameri-
cans in the Far East, and for ia
pans pressure against the open
door in China Rather, she might
expect an embargo against ship
ment from the United States of
materials that help Japan carry on
| her abuse and pressure Some au-
| thorities estimate that the United
States is now supplying IS percent
of the materials essential to Japa-
lnese military forces in China.
s. AS a timely move, to strength
/ en- the hands of the French, Brit
ish and Russian diplomats, who are
supposed to be close to military
alliance against the axis powers,
which Japan has so definitely
joined
| 6. To bolster Great Britan's mis-
sion in Tokyo negotiating a new
4 Anglo-Japanese formula in China,
, where both have investments close
! to $1,500,000,000. The action came
just after the British had suffered
an initial defeat in the negotiations
by recognizing in effect that Japan
] has special status in China
7. To keep down any charges
OF British influence in American
foreign policy. The American abb
rogation notice was clearly not
served in concert with the Brit
ish. IF it had been, the Ameri-
can isolationists, led by Senators
William E.. Borah and Hiram John
son, would have been free to open
up another blast against playing
the British game in the Far East
AS it stands, the British were re-
sentful toward our lone handed
play, claiming they should have
been told what we were planning
to do.
8. On the domestic front, tc
slap on the wrist the senatorial
bloc Of conservative Democratic
iSolationists and Republicans who
blocked President Roosevelt's drive
to revise the neutrality law and I'M
tie the Presidents hands in ticklish
foreign situations. At present the
law provides embargoes against
shipments Of arms and ammunitions
to warning nations. The Admins
tration contends this is more likely
to get us into war than keep us
out The abrogation notice is the
Presidents way of exercising right
conferred on the President bv the
constitution. completely Independent
of the Senate.
BOTH PARTIES SUPPORT TT
8. By taking the initiative against
Japan, the Administration also
clearly shows it is trying to beat
the Republicans to the punch ir
1910, assuming that anti-Japanest
sentiment will be running at full
tide in this country during the pres
1dent1al campaign. The Democratic
orators will be able to say that the
President hifself acted to penalizt
Japan in the Far East. but thai
his action was such as not to invite
useless war This should solicit
popularity among churches witt
missions in China, too.
TO- And finally. the Administra
ton can claim the complete back.
ing of both parties, and American
political opinion generally-a fac.
tor of vast Importance to the jap.
anese.
For Mr.. Hulrs notice to Japar
comes right behind the introduction
in the Senate of a resolution BY
Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg Of
MichigaD, fayoring abrogation Of
the 1911 treaty, the one possible OBJ
stacle to an embargo agamst.Japan
No doubt japanese, as we'll as Am
erican observers. will carefully note
that Mr.. Vandenberg is a leading
Republican candidate for President
in 1910. ss.s