Evening star., 1940-12-14
Basis for japanese Policy
Italian Defects and British Successes
Bring ConeiIiotory Attitude From Nippon

nese premier, advised America to
ponder and understand Japan,
Germany and Italy, which are con-
structing a new world order, and
to adjust it's course to the new world
trend" If the United States failed
to understand Japan's true inten-
tions, he said, there will be no
other course than to go to war"
Two days later he declared that
the Japanese people should be pre-
pared for "the worst situation that
can arise" Foreign Minister Mat
suoka at the same time told for
eign powers that "if they wish to
minimize their losses they should
withdraw all aid to Chunking."
Response Was Prompt.
The American-British response to
these announcements was prompt.
The British announced reopening
of the Burma Road. The United
States advised its nationals to leave
the Far East. Canada banned cop
per shipments to Japan and 4,200
American reservists sailed to join
the fleet at various stations in the
Pacific. During the last five months
the United States has been steadily
tightening its restrictions against
sale Of war materials to Japan.
Immediately there were symptoms
of softening of Japanese belligerency
and these recently have been
climaxed by the appointment of
Admiral Nomura as Ambassador to
the United States and Mr.. Mat
suoka's somewhat labored explana-
ton that adherence to the axis alli-
ance required Japan to 60 to war
only If the United States attacked
Germany. Matsuoka's remarks
plainly were designed to minimize
the danger of an American-Japanese
clash.
An inkling as to Admiral Nomura's
course in Washington may be de-
rived from his actions as foreign
minister. He then sponsored a
policy of opening the Yangtze River
Valley to foreign trade and for
quicker settlement Of American
complaints of concrete injuries to
our nationals and property in China.
These measures largely failed be-
cause of opposition by the Japanese
Army high command in China and
Nomura now seems to be taking
steps to remove this obstacle. 1t
is reported that he accepted the
ambassadorship only after he was
given assurance that the army would
adhere to the decisions of the CEN
tral government at Toxic. 1t is
announced that Admiral Nomura
will visit Shanghai and Nanking ito
inspect conditions" before he sails
for the United States on December
28 Also the japanese dispatch de-
clares, he will see japanese naval
and military commanders in the
course of his Chinese visit.
The Crucial Question.
It Is now generally accepted that
Japan does not want war with the
United States and that Admiral
Nomura's mission is primarily with
the purpose of avoiding this eventu-
dlllN. lIlc u uCldl NucSIlOll ID "IiC-
ther Japan's game is one merely of
playing for time while it waits to
see how the war in Europe will
break, or whether her situation. mill
tary and economic, has reached the
pass where she is really anxious to
terminate the Chinese adventure
and is willing to make real conces-
Sions to this end.
For the United States, even more
than Japan, the European situation
now has become the first consider
alton as concerns any proposal for
Far Eastern settlement that may
be offered. Certainly no Japanese
proposal will be treated seriously
that does not start with a renuncia-
ton of her alliance with Germany
and assurance that she will not in
wade British, French or Dutch
dominions as long as the European
war lasts.
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