Evening star., 1940-12-12
BY RELMAN NORM,

Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
TOKIO.-To much of Japan the
United States Government has
become kind of Self-appointed
village constable, busy with affairs
and territories 10000 miles from
Washington, and even further from
immediate or vital American inter-
ests.
They accuse the United States of
meddling. And this factor-the pre-
sumably unwarranted interference
has assumed extreme Importance in
the japanese belief that it is diff
cult If not impossible to come to
peaceful conclusions with the United
States. japanese consider it fruit
less to settle individual issues as long
as America retains what they con-
slider fixed intention to interfere
In Far Eastern events.
Japans policies are boldly realis-
tic. They are anchored to concrete
japanese interests, to trade, colo
nies, and points of strategic urgency.
Japanese. on their part, understand
and actually sympathize with such
concern, even when they find it
motivating other nations against
themselves.
Understand British Feelings.
Therefore, despite the outburst
against Britain that appears fire.
quently in Japan, the japanese peo-
pie realize that Britain has huge
stake in China, colonies, naval bases
and vital lines of communication.
Moreover, they know that Japan
ese expansion is threatening this
segment of the British Empire. SO
they can comprehend British oppo-
sition. The friction there is natural.
But no such easy answer appears
when they come to examine the
position of the United States in the
Far East. All the things that Brit
ain has, and may be expected to
protect, the japanese contend, the
United States lacks.
They argue that American In
vestments are very small. and that
American trade with the Orient is
a fractional silver of the total over
seas commerce. In fact, the annual
S200000,000 export to Japan is the
biggest portion of it.
Since the American flag is to be
withdrawn from the Philippines,
Japanese assume that America, does
not consider the islands as colony.
There are no other large areas in
the Orient under American do
minion.
Can't Understand.
With more than 1000 miles of
water between Yokohama and the
American mainland, japanese naval
experts profess perplexity, and grow
politely sarcastic, when they hear
that the United States needs Far
Eastern bases for defense.
In short, Japanese say they fail
entirely to understand American
concern with events in the Orient.
Accustomed to think in terms of
vital practical interest, they look
around for those of the United
States. And, of course, claim to find
none.
Not long ago, Hachiro Arita, then
Foreign Minister, phrased the Jap
anese point of view with the words:
Japan has as much concern in
the affairs of Asiatic countries as
the United States has in those of,
say, Venezuela, or any Latin Amer
ican country" japanese like to
point out that Japan was never con-
suited, nor did she ask to be, about
any moves in North or South
America.
American insistence on principles
the open, door, the right of equal
opportunity, the sanctity of treaties,
the remuneration of force as an in
strument of national policy-these
ideas leave the japanese cold and
unresponsive, because, as they
put 1t:
First. you have to pe surficiently