Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-07
Trade Crisis With Jopun?

Within less than two months, bar
ring events not yet in prospect, our
commercial treaty with Japan will
come to an end. Earlier this year
the United States announced that
the pact would be terminated on it's
Forthcoming expiration date, Janu-
airy 26, 1910. The underlying sug-
gestion was that renewal would only
be possible if Japan mends her ways,
especially with regard to the things
the japanese Army is doing in
China" to quote Ambassador Grew
In his now celebrated public address
at Toxic last month, and also if the
Toxic government abandons the
policy of persistent violation of
American treaty rights in China.
A volume of trade which amounted
In 1887 to roundly $500, 100000 is in
volved. In that year the United
States imported from Japan S2O4,-
1000 and exported to the island
empire $286377,0 900. Such figures
suffice to indicate that commercial
relations between the two countries
are mutually advantageous in the
highest degree. Their magnitude is
guarantee that neither in Wash
ington nor in Toxic will anything pre-
cipitate be done that might under
mine structure vitality important
to japanese and American economic
life alike.
But if Toxic doubts that this Gov
eminent is not serious in expecting
action by the japanese, any such I'M
certainty should be removed by yes
terday's announcement by Chairman
Pittman of the Senate Foreign Rela-
tons Committee He declared that
unless relations with Japan improve
before the commercial treaty expires,
Congress undoubtedly will enact his
pending resolution empowering the
President to embargo ANY or ALL
exports to Japan. 'It is entirely
fair" Mr.. Pittman explained, that
Japan should be warned to beware
the Ides of January and reminded
that her entire attitude in China has
been one of total disregard of the
rights of the United States, as well
as of other countries"
An embargo on American exports
to Japan would be a matter of seri-
GUS concern to her. It would hit her
for Il IA
round $1,0OO,0OO,OOO of japanese
imports in 1887, about fifth came
from this country. The bulk of them
consists of raw cotton, the lifeblood
of the islands vast textile industry.
Shut off from American cotton sup
plies, that trade would face strangu-
lation. If a commercial war be-
tween us should extend to bar on
Japanese imports by the United
States, the Asiatic nation would be
even more disastrously affected, for
nearly one-third of its total exports
of $900,000,000 is sold to the United
States, formerly mostly in raw silk,
but latterly, to a growing degree, in
cotton fabrics.
Private and official advices leave
no doubt that these conditions, forti-
fed by the strong attitude Ambassa-
dor Grew was directed to proclaim
upon his return to TOXIC in October,
have caused the new japanese cabi-
net to ponder carefully the risk of
pursuing those policies in China, of
which the United States has now in
f1rmer tones than ever voiced its
uncompromising resentment. That
the civilian element at Toxic favors
concessions which would mollify
American susceptibilities, there is
little question. But there is no less
certainty that the army, which rules
the roost, remains adamant in it's
refusal to abandon plans for that
new order in Asia" to which the
western powers resolutely decline to
assent.