Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-26
j. ). Trade Relations
With Japan 10 Run
On Day.to.Da Basis
Congress Is Expected
To Delay Consideration
Of Embargo Plans
BY ANDRUE BERDING,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.

ASSOCldkcu 1TcSo StdA WHICH.
The made-in -the-U. S. A. sword
of Damocles which now hangs over
Japan's trade relations with this
country will be allowed to hang
there for months to come.
When the commercial treaty with
Japan, abrogated by Secretary Hull,
expires January 26, "modus
vivendi" may be negotiated. but will
not strengthen the hair that now
holds Damocles' celebrated weapon.
A "modus vivendi" is a temporary
arrangement that. in this connec-
tion.. may call for continuance of
most favored nation treatment,
meaning that the United States will
accord Japan all the commercial
concessions it grants other nations
and Japan will do likewise.
But the vital difference between
that the latter is on a day-to-day,
hand o-mouth basis and can be
terminated by either party at mo-
ment's notice-or no notice at all.
And so Japan will be made to under
stand.
Selects Middle Way.
The writer learns on high author
ity that the administration Is Sc
lecting the middle way of three
methods of dealing with Japan. The
three are:
|. The soft approach. Negotiate
q new commercial treaty and hope
that Japan, in the goodness OF her
heart, will compose all her differ
ences with the United States in the
Far East and give up the idea OF a
new order in East Asia"
2. The other extreme. Refuse
Japan a new commercial treaty
and the moment the present one
expires, impose an embargo on the
shipment of raw materials to Japan
regardless of whether this might
bring on war or not.
3. The middle way. Negotiate no
new commercial treaty unless Japan
is willing to make a fundamental
settlement in the Far East. But
permit Japan modus vivendi dur
ing the course Of negotiations, a
modus vivendi that could be re-
voked at any instant-and would be
If any incident involving Americans
or American interests developed in
China.
Would Delay Consideration.
Under this plan Congress would
delay consideration of the embargo
resolutions introduced by Senators
Pittman, Democrat, of Nevada. and
Schwellenbach, Democrat, of WASH
ington, and half dozen Represen-
tatives. Thus not only the modus
vivendi, but also the possibility of
an embargo would hang over Nip
pon's head. 1t is pretty clearly
recognized that at this writing pros
poets for congressional majority
in favor of an embargo are slim,
and to press the issue and see the
embargo defeated would impair the
administrations chances of bar
gaining with Japan.
If the individual sponsors of the
series of resolutions before Congress
should refuse to 60 along with the
administrations plan and decide to
push legislation and go down to de-
feat, the administration would still
have the ''modus vivendi" left as a
bartering point. Japan seems to re-
gard commercial treaty relations
with the United States as more i'm
portant than does this country
Some of the port and shipping
clauses she considers necessary for
her trade. 1t would be an uneasy
tenant who desired to continue liv-
ing IN a certain house and wanted
long-term lease to guarantee pos
session but could get nothing from
the owner but midnight-to- mid
night agreement.
Maneuver of Nerves.
What is going on between the
United States and Japan is, in
effect, maneuver of nerves. Off,
Gals here believe they hold all the
cards following the abrogation of
the 1911 commercial treaty. Six
monthe ago, they think, Japan
would not have offered to negotiate
settlement of American claims aris-
ing out of attacks on Americans or
damage to American property in
China. Six months ago Japan would
not have expressed her intention of
reopenlng the Yangtze and Pearl
Rivers to commercial traffic.
But these moves alone are not
going to satisfy the administration.
What is desired is a fundamental
settlement in China which will leave
that norton of the unrld Of neane