Evening star., 1940-04-20


keep the record clear in the event
OF contingencies. however remote
But any impression that the COM
ments of the Japanese and Amer
lean governments in the last few
days represents any change in the
relationship of the two countries
would be erroneous.
The truth is the whole situation
IS full of maneuvers in which
published warnings play their part
but they are also we'll understood
as in the case of the United States
and Japan, as being natural cor
rollary to the nervousness which is
rather widespread at the moment
IN various foreign capitals.
Japan and the United States are
by no means on the ragged edge
of mutual friendship. The japanese
have their hands full in China and
are not especially anxious to create
new issues between Toxic and
Washington. Hence, it may we'll be
that the informal TOXIC comment
about protecting" the Dutch Indies
in Japan, who felt the urge, as often
occurs, to express the nationalism
that sometimes burns for expression
to satisfy internal factions or
groups.
No Chip on L. S. Shoulder.
So far as the United States is
concerned, it is not eager to develop
any new points of friction, being
anxious so far as possible to allay
those which have arisen already
In connection with the abrogation
of the japanese American COM
mercial treaty. The military ele-
ments in Japan have for long time
been Indifferent to the very earnest
efforts being made in Washington
to bring Japan and the United
States into a better understanding
and it would not be surprising if the
comments about the Dutch East
Indies emanated form the same
sources.
When one considers the history of
Japanese American relations in the
last Is years, it is not surprising
that there have been sharp differ
ences of view: AS often as there
have been divergences, however,
there have been sincere elements
In both countries which have striver
to bring America and Japan into
harmony, not only because of the
huge trade involved, but because
the eventual restoration of peace in
the Far East as between Japan and
China is regarded as one of the
first contributions that can be made
to a new world order.
1t is natural, of course, for each
nation to build up it's armament
when there is uncertainty and re-
fusal to clarity intentions. Perhaps
the biggest mistake the japanese
military folks have made is to de-
cline to deal frankly with the ques-
ton of a naval race in the Pacific.
Only the other day Admiral Stark
of the United States Navy testified
that America must build many more
battleships because Japan had re-
fused any information as to her
naval program. Such policy seems
short-sighted because, with the i'm
mense natural resources of the
United States and its plentiful sup
ply of gold, there is no doubt that
America can 2 build a navy far
superior in size to that of the Jap
anese. The latter. on the other
hand, do not need big navy to
protect their island empire as
against any foreign POWERFUL
ropean or American. American pub
lie opinion never visualizes an attack
on Japan by sea or air by the United
States.
Frank Understanding Economical.
A frank understanding on naval
policy between Japan and the
United States, therefore, would long
ago have improved Japanese Amer.
ican relations and saved Japan
much expense. The present trend
in Washington, of course, is toward
building up the Navy to equal any
other navy in the world, but this
arises more out of a fear that the
British fleet may some day sue
cumb to defeat as consequence of
European shifts in the balance of
power. 1t is to protect the Atlantic
Coast that the bigger American
Navy now is directed and it is sig
nificant that Admiral Stark did
not support in his testimony before
a congressional committee the idea
Of a "two-ocean Navy" He rather
leaned toward the thought of big
Navy which might have to be con-
centrated in the Atlantic. Certain
ly this does not exclude the posi-
bility of better relations with Japan
some day-a circumstance which.
If consummated in the year 1910.
would mean great deal to the
peace of the world through the
stabilization of national passions
In the Pacific.
Talk of naval rivalry and possible
protection" for the Dutch East
Indies even before Holland has been
invaded may give the impression of
inevitable friction between America
and Japan. But there are strong
elements in Japan as well as in
America working toward peaceful
solutions and cooperation. On the
whole, though still full of uncer-
tainties, it cannot be said that
Japanese relations have
undergone any fundamental change
in the last few months. Even the
failure to renew the commercial
treaty has not left the public
opinion of either country in state
of broken friendship. For the urge
to friendship is growing, notwith-
standing the strains which are fire.
quently put upon both governments
by the implications of the European
war.