Evening star., 1940-09-29

embargo on Japan give Bangkok
pause.
3-Energetic steps are taken by
both countries to aid China in
every possible way-credits, sup
plies. support of the Chinese dollar,
and such other means as may be
deutschland can, with hearty good
will.
U. S. Sends ReinfOrcements.
4-The United States dispatches
to the Far East, perhaps to the
vicinity OF Port Darwin, or even to
Singapore, certain reinforcements
which will make certain that the
japanese dare not attempt an as
sault on the Netherland Indies. or
British Malaga. save by supporting
the effort with their main battle
fleet. These reinforcements might
consist of such elements as cruisers.
submarines. and patrol aircraft in
such numbers as might be con-
sidered adequate.
5. Britain and the United States
proclaim as their joint policy de-
fensive protectorate over the Meth
erlands Indies, and military and
naval consultations are undertaken
with the local Dutch authorities
looking to the security of the is
lands.
6 The Australian government
tIn1orf q u tho ovnoncinn onI
forcement Of the base at Port Dar-
win. the increase of Thursday Is
land. and the improvement Of in
terror communica tions with Dar-
win and other North Coast points.
7. Steps are taken to establish
seaplane and other naval facilities
in the Solomon and Gilbert Islands
and at other points protecting the
north flank of the American-Aus-
tralian line of communications.
1t is contended that by this series
of steps. the Japanese are confront
ed with an insoluble problem, stra-
tegic and economic. from which
they can escape by only one of two
ways: The establishment of mod
crate government which will COM
pletely readjust the whole Far
Eastern scene on reasonable con-
ditions - including the Chinese
problem: or to come forth to wage
war under conditions assuring their
defeat.
1t is further contended that this
course of action is by far the best
insurance against war in the Far
East after all-the alternative, re-
cession and appeasement, has been
proven over and over again to have
the opposite result-and insures
that if war must be fought there, it
will be a short and victorious war
for the English-speaking peoples
and perhaps the turning point from
which other victories will flow.
Risk Is Britain's Fall.
1t will be noted that as far as the
United States is concerned. we are
mainly involved with our fleet and
naval aviation, and we need not cur
tail our aid to Britain in the mean
while even if we do become belli-
gerent against Japan. The local
resources of India, Burma, Malaga,
and above all of Australia and New
Zealand, are very great and will help
us enormously. The one great risk
is that Britain may 60 down while
We are fighting Japan, but that risk
is growing less. and in any case, if
Britain does fall, out Atlantic dam
ger will not be immediate.
There is, indeed, risk in anything
we may do; there is risk in sitting
still and waiting on events. 1t is
submitted that time is of the essence
in modern war, that having learned
this lesson we should use it to our
advantage; that we have waited and
delayed too long, and that the world
should be shown that free peoples
can act with the force and dyna-
mism which has hitherto been the
sole property of the totalitarian con-
querors.
1t is probable that we have before
us a winter of war in which Ger
many will grow weaker, Italy may
falter, while China still fights on,
while Japan has had no chance of
recovery-and should be afforded
none. One Of our declared enemies
Is alone, and already weakened; it
is we who are the fools if We allow
him to grow strong and threatening
again.
(Copyrightsd. 1910 b. New York
Tribune, 1ne.)