Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-15
Nomura Choice Held
Sign Japan Seeks
To Avert j. 5. Clash

To Avert j. 5. Clash
Selection Of 'Appeoser
Envoy Called Significant;
Hole Seen in Axis Pact
The significance OF the appoint
ment OF Admiral Nomurd as
Tokio's Ambassador to Washing.
ton, in relation to reports that
Japan is not bound by the arts
treaty of alliance to attack the
United States if tDe should enter
the European tDar, is discussed
here by distinguished japanese
author and Journalist, pho mas
Hved in America since 1901. He
Is registered Nth the State De-
pGrtment as Washington cor
respondent of the TOXIC Nichi
Nichy and the Osaka Mainichi
BY X. X. KAWAKAMI.
Foreign Minister Matsuoka's choice
of Admiral Kichisoburo Nopura as
Japanese Ambassador to Washing
ton lends color to reports that there
is q secret escape" clause in the
Berlin Rome Toxic axis pact by
which Japan would be released from
any obligation to make war against
the United States.
Admiral Nomura has never been
known to be an admirer of the Ber-
lin-Rome axis. An ardent patriot,
he Is pro-Japanese first, last and
all the time. but he is broad enough
to entertain certain admiration
for America.
As Foreign Minister in the short
lived Abe cabinet almost year ago,
Admiral Nomura endeavored to re-
adjust the unhappy relations be-
tween Japan and the United States.
1t is difficult not to read consider
able significance into the appoint
ment of such statesman-an ap-
peaser. so to speak-to the ambas-
sadorship at Washington at this
particular time, especially in view
OF the fact that this appointment
has not been opposed by the mill
tary and naval wings of the Japa-
nese government.
The Military Are Careful of U. S.
The Japanese Army, while believ-
ing in Japan's manifest destiny"
on the Asiatic Continent, has al
ways been an advocate of peace
with the United States. This ira
dition Is evident in Gen. KatSuras
confidential talk with President Taft
In 1908. and in similar conversa-
tons between Gen. Tanaka (made
famous by the so-called Tanaka
memorial counterfeited in China
and Gen. Leonard Wood when the
latter was Governor General of the
Philippines. Both Gen. Katsura and
Gen. Tanaka guaranteed Americas
position in the Philippines. Today.
with Japan's hands more than full
IN China, the army is anxious to
keep peace with America.
The Japanese Navy, too; while, or
rather because, it believes in Japan's
southwark advance, has no desire
to step on the sensitive toes of the
United States. True, there are a
number of exuberant younger off,
GERS who, disregarding Japan's pre-
carious economic condition, assert
that Japan must come to grips with
America before Americas two-ocean
navy is completed. This, however,
is not the view of the Japanese
Navy.
Japan Apparently Is Judge.
The question is: Will Japan 20 to
war against America If America
enters the European war on the
British side?
Putting together various pieces of
information reaching here from re.
liable sources in the Far East, it can
be safely assumed that the three
power treaty of alliance has q sup
Elementary agreement which has
been withheld from the public.
The exact nature of this unpub-
hshed agreement cannot be ascer-
tanned, but its purport, it is under.
stood, is to leave Japan the sole
Judge what constitutes the condi-
ton which would obligate Japan to
declare war against the United
States.
1t was, presumably. upon the
strength of the supplementary
understanding that the alliance was
approved by imperial advisers at
Toxic. One hears that the Priv
Council, the supreme advisory body
to the throne, was far from pleased
with the alliance, and that it's OBJ
position was neutralized only when
1t wa sassured that the government
would do all in its power to fore.
stall war with America.
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