Evening star., 1939-09-24
American Navy May Challenge
Japanese Expansion in Pacific
Roosevelt Administration Is Reported Watchine
East's Developments With Concern as
Europe Fights Suicidal War
By Constantine Broom.

Britain and would in the long run be
detrimental to the cause Of the axis, to
which Japan belongs by implication.
And ne assured the Japanese government
that nothing is further from the minds
OF the Moscow leaders than to pick row
with Japan.
On the other hand, it was evident to
Toxic that because of the present cir
cumstances Britain might be friendly to
Japan. But, in the last analysis. the
main conflict in the Far East is between
the western industrial countries and the
Nipponese empire. It is a row as to who
Will be able to exploit China to the best
advantage.
Foes Shake Hands,
Ribbentrop urged Japan to remove all
causes OF friction with Russia. He made
the same appeal to Moscow. He received
from the Kremlin an enthusiastic ap-
provaL The armistice between the two
eastern empires were consummated. and
a non-aggression pact with a number Of
strings and ties will be signed shortly.
The old antagonism between Russia and
Japan will cease, temporarily at least.
This column dealt at intervals with the
Japanese aims in the Pacific. They are
Dynamic. That is to say, they change as
the world situation changes. But the
fundamental thought remains the sane
that Japan must take advantage of
every conceivable situation to build her
sen into an empire completely self-suf1-
cient SO far as raw materials 20. The
Japanese are the greatest imitators in
tne world. They want to initiate the
British Empire. They want to make
tnelr Isles the producing plant of the
world, While the possessions Japan is en-
deavor1ng to obtain on the Chinese main
land and in the Southern Pacific vii,
PROVIDE the raw materials her factories
need.
Inc japanese have shown their in
tentlon to dislodge the western powers
from China, and already have succeeded
70 large degree. The taking over of
tne treaty ports is question of time
not very long time at that. The NJ.
cupation OF Hong Kong seems to MANY
1oklo leaders a foregone conclusion.
With Britain heavily engaged in Europe
the British Empire has no means IN
prevent the Japanese from doing what
ever they want. The same thing can
apply to French 1ndo-China if the jan
anese judge that that prosperous French
possession has to be included in the
empire.
Dutch East Indies Is Goal,
But Japan's main aim is the Dutch
East Indies, which heretofore have been
protected by the prestige and power Of
the British Navy.
Those islands are the height of anbi.
ton OF the japanese government be.
cause their acquisition would mean that
Japan will have raw materials which
even the United States lacks-mainly
rubber. The oil lands Of the islands are
sufficient to supply all economic and
military needs of the Japanese empire,
The possession Of Java, sumatra and
Borneo, heretofore a dream, might now
become reality. If Britain does not
listen to Hitler's peace proposals to be
made after the conquest of Poland has
been completed she will have her hands
full Tor so many years in Europe that
she will not possibly be able to prevent
Japan's expansion in the Southern
Pacific. Holland is not in a position
to oppose the Japanese forces in more
than perfunctory way.
Germany has played her cards well. If
the conclusion of the Japanese Russian
non-aggression pact, temporarily remov-
Ing all friction between the two empires,
forces England to listen to the German
peace proposals, the Nazis have won their
war without much sacrifice If Britain
is stubborn In her determination to fight
Nazism. she will have to think in terms
Of years and must be concerned over q
long period of time as to what may hap
pen, not to the crown colonies in the Far
East, but to her dominions and to India.
U. s. Interests Seen Menaced.
So far as this country is concerned no.
body IN official quarters here seems pub
icly disposed to pull the chestnuts out Of
the fire for the British Empire The
Japanese interference with American
treaty rights, however, will be resisted
with notes at first. and possibly with
action later. But the expansion Of Japan
to the detriment of the Netherlands Is
considered in Washington as a direct
menace to Americas vital interests, and
in many responsible quarters the "grav-
est views" will be taken if such an action
on the part of the Japanese materializes.
1t is more than unlikely that the ad-
mil 1Scfv will $vry x~
United States in the European chaos.
But that determination to keep away
from the perennial European wars must
not necessarily be applied to situations
in which Americas own economic life
or that Of the so-called European democ-
racies-is deemed to be at stake.