Evening star., 1939-08-17
Fear Japan Will Use
European Crisis 10
Aid China Drive
Officials in CopitoI
Learn Of Attempt to
Blockade Hong Kong
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

ny JOSLK A h Dn1ANDs
Fears that Japan will utilize the
approaching crisis in Europe for an
other drive" against Western con-
cessions in China grew in official
circles here today as reports from
the Far East indicated the Japanese
army is attempting to encircle and
isolate the British crown colony of
Hong Kong.
Such a movement by the Japanese
would be in line with the consistent
policy the Japanese have followed
for the past two years-making new
demands in Asia whenever Great
Britain and France face some acute
crisis in Europe which demands
their concentrated attention and
the keeping of their armed forces
free to meet possible attack by the
"axis" powers.
The American position in the face
of renewed japanese demands for
expanded political rights in any
areas where the United States has
treaty interest will be identical
with that stated by Secretary of
State Hull several times previously
it was said. This position has been
that the United States will not yield
one single privilege in China or l
inch of treaty soil as the result OF
unilateral action by Japan. 1t is
willing to discuss changes, but not
to recognize changes made by force.
More Serious Problem Seen.
If, as seems indicated by the Jap
anese occupation of territory in
KWantung Province just north Of
Hong Kong, the japanese intend to
blockade it, just as they have block
AIDED Tientsin, Great Britain will be
faced with problem much more
serious than that now existing in the
North, authorities here agreed
Tientsin is legally Chinese ter
ritory, and the British merely oc-
cupy concession there by virtue
of the extraterrtoriality treaties
But Hong Kong is in very different
category. This important island
port is valid British territory, a col
ony of the crown, having been ceded
to Great Britain by China in the
Anglo-Chinese treaty of l84l. Hence
from a viewpoint of international
law, a Japanese blockade there
would impinge on British rights tc
the same extent as blockade of
say Singapore.
Fear Harbor Blockade.
Authorities here are wondering
whether the threatened blockade will
be confined to land or whether the
Japanese will be audacious enough
to seek also to close Hong Kong
front door to the sea. Troops sta
toned to the north of Hong Kong
in Kwangtung Province would in
terfere seriously with the city's food
supply, which comes largely from
the Chinese hinterland. But a
blockade of Hong Kong harbor
would tie up one of the worlds
greatest ports and be a direct chal-
lenge to British maritime power.
Hong Kong proper is located or
an island at the mouth of the Can
ton River, about IS miles south oi
the city of Canton. The island
whose capital is Victoria, is II miles
long and covers an area of 80 square
miles. Greater Hong Kong include:
considerable territory on the Chinese
mainland, embracing the Kowloor
district. The entire colony has ar
area of 391 square miles and popu-
lation of 849,757, of which about
10000 are foreigners.
To a greater extent even thar
Shanghai, Hong Kong is the nerve
center of British commercial life il
China. Its control by Japan, &C.
; cordlng to experts here, would NEAR
the virtual end of British trade anc
influence in the whole of China
, Therefore it is not expected tha,
London would capitulate to any Jap.
, anese demands there without &
struggle.
But whether, in the present cir.
cumstances, the struggle can bt
more than a diplomatic one is opel
to doubt-a fact well recognized b,
, the japanese.
On Verge of Diplomatic Crisis.
Britain is on the verge of tht
greatest European diplomatic crisi!
since 1914-one that we'll may de.
termine the life of the empire
Within the next two weeks, it Seems
likely, Chancellor Hitler will come
into the open with his demand fol
Danzig. If Poland finds it necessary
to meet the German demands by
military force, Britain is officially
committed to go to Warsaw's as.
sistance.
In the view of veteran observer!
here, Britain's one hope of protect
ing Poland and at the same tim'
preserving peace is by presenting
3, in conjunction with France-ar
t overwhelming show of military ane
naval force. Naturally, it is recog
nized by the British foreign offic,
that this cannot be done If at thl
/ very moment Britain faces Ger
S many it is required to disperse {
large part of its naval forces to tn
Far East.