The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-09-14

WASHINGTON. The whole course
of United States relations with Japan
may be changed as result of the
about face of the Hitler and Stain
governments. When congress adj
journed Secretary of State Cordell
Hull had already served the nec-
essary six-months notice of abb
rogation of our commercial treaty
with Japan. Not only was this ac-
ton highly popular in the country,
to judge from comments at the time,
but it was approved on Capitol Hill
by almost every faction and group
of congress-from theNvigorous par
tisans of Britain and France to the
most extreme pacifists and isolation
lists.
Not only that, but it was obvious
that if congress had stayed in ses-
sion much longer there would have
been serious attempts, which might
have proved successful If given the
slightest encouragement by the adj
ministration, to take further steps
against Japan. This move might
not have gone as far as was advo-
Gated by Sen. Key Pittman, chair
man of the senate foreign relations
committee, who wanted an outright
embargo against Nippon, but it
might have approached it.
Obviously President Roosevelt,
seeing that his first move against
Japan had been SO popular, might at
any time have declared that he rec
ognized that state of war existed
between Japan and China. This
would have meant, under the pres
ent neutrality law, that this country
could no longer ship arms, ammu-
milton and implements of war" to
Japan. The only reason this is not
III effect today is that Japan has
never declared war, and because of
fear that such an embargo might
hurt China more than Japan this
government has never officially rec
ognized that war in the Orient ex-
lists.
Obviously, also, congress was set
to take some step in this direc-
ton when 1t reconvenes, either in
January at the regular session, or
earlier il the President should call
special session.
Opposition to Closing
Trade Door fifth China
This feeling, which has been wide
spread in the country, has been
based on two factors. First, there
is very general sympathy in the
United States with China as against
the aggressions of Japan. But sec
ond, Japan has been the ally of
Germany and Italy, and as such has
been disliked by all partisans of the
"democracies." Up to the Hitler
Stain pact this dislike was shared
by the Communist element in this
country also. In fact Japan simply
did not have any friends in this
country, and had hosts of enemies,
whose feelings had been famed by
the various incidents, including the
sinking OF the gunboat Panay, and
outrages on civilians.
But now the whole situation has
been changed. There is no evidence
that there is any friendlier feeling
for Japan. Certainly there is no
more sympathy with her aspirations
to subjugate and govern eastern Chi
ma. And there is certainly just as
much violent opposition to her clos
ing the door to United States trade
with China.
But Japan is no longer the prob
able adversary of Britain and
France in World war-a war into
which the United States might east
ly be drawn. So she is-for the
time being certainly-no longer
possible enemy of the United States
in open warfare in the pending
emergency.
Many astute observers have long
felt that war between Japan and
the United States is inevitable even
tually. That may or may not still
be true, but in the present. situa-
ton it is not factor to be consid-
cred. Japan has already, since the
announcement of the Stalin-Hitler
pact, given evidence of a desire to
placate Britain. Naturally she does
not like the thought of Germany's
giving the Soviet a free hand in
the Orient. Having obtained what,
according to Gen. w. G.. Krivitsky
and other observers, Stain has
wanted for long time-a tieup with
Hitler-Stalin may easily decide
now to slap down Japan in her at
tempts to overrun China and en-
croach on territory that Stain de-
sires.
Poured Water on Wheels
OF the Isolationist Bloc
Curiously enough the Stalin-Hitler
agreement poured lot of water on
the wheels of the isolationist bloc.
They are not doing much screaming
from the housetops about it, yet,
but they are studying it quietly,
gathering ammunition for their own
battle with the White House and
state department IN the event that