Evening star., 1940-01-27
End Of u. ). Treaty.
Won't Halt Program,
Says Japan S Army
Possibility Of War With
America Is Discussed
Frankly by Officers
BY CLARK LEE,

Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
SHANGHAI, January 27.-Japa-
nese Army officers in China say the
ending of the United States-Japa-
nese commercial treaty yesterday
cannot alter their program for the
establishment of "a new order" in
this country.
They assert that no matter what
economic pressure the United States
may bring in the treatyless period
ahead their program, which has
meant harm to Americans and in
fringement of their treaty rights,
must go on even If this means
frontal conflict with the United
States.
Since 1881 the japanese Army
has dictated the empires policy
respecting China If its attitude is
unchanged, experienced observers
here see little chance for a Japa-
nese-American agreement to replace
the old treaty, since there would
be no assurance that promises
made by the Toxic government to
respect American interests would
be carried out by the army in China.
The treaty's last day passed with
out any notable Japanese-Ameri-
can developments here.
War Possibility Discussed.
Army officers freely discuss the
possibility that gradual tightening
Of the economic screws on Japan
by the United States might lead
to war between the two countries.
On the other hand, however, the
more conservative Japanese Navy,
which would have to do most of any
f1ghting, dismisses the question of
q Japanese-American war as ex-
tremely unlikely. And in the mid
die of the tangled situation is the
third party, China, whose hopes for
victory over Japan now rest to a
large extent on the possibility of q
split between Japan and the United
States.
If the United States and Japan
reconcile their difficulties, it would
be severe blow to China and pos
sibly would mean the end of Gen
eralissimo Chang Kai-shek's re-
sistance against the japanese.
If Japanese-American trade con-
tinues as it has for the two and a
half years of the Japanese Chinese
conflict, Japan still would receive
the large supplies of American oil
and scrap iron she needs to prose-
cute the war.
Would Hit New Order"
Many Japanese officers admit that
II this indirect help from the United
States were ended by an embargo
the chances of success for their
new order" would be greatly les
sened. But in spite of that they are
not disposed to yield to Washing
ton on any phase of China policy.
The army's position is not alone
due to stubbornness nor to au-im-
portant Oriental consideration of
face" The arny's position is that
even If it wanted to "appease" the
United States. present conditions in
China prevent it.
Inc Japanese are now so far en-
meshed in China that it appears
impossible for them to take any
steps backward or to surrender any
territorial or economic gains they
have already made. Some of these
gains, especially economic, run
counter to American interests.
Every officer with whom this
writer has spoken. from mature
commanders like 1t. Gen. Masaharu
Homma in Tientsin and 1t. Gen.
Hayao Tada in Peiping to hot
headed members of the younger Of
flcers' clique, insists that nothing
America can do will alter JapanS
determination to establish the new
order"
One young officer, typical of many,
said:
This is a war of life or death for
our nation. If we are going to die.
we will go down f1ghting-against
America or any other nation that
tries to stop U.s."