Evening star., 1940-07-07

T ITERALLY in every corner of the
IL world the present upheaval is max
ing itself felt, altering the structure of
states and changing the pattern of lives
both great and small. This military and
political earthquake has rocked not only
pore, Toxic and Chungking-the sta
bility of the East as well as the West.
For three years the Chinese nationalist
government under Gen. Chang Kai-shek
has held out against Japan. That has
been one of the strangest paradoxes OF
our time-that a so-called backward
country could so long resist one of the
great industrial and military powers.
While at the same time France, consid-
cred to have the most formidable army
in the world, collapsed in 18 days.
But now with Britain and France pow
erless to defend their stake in the East
and the United States compelled to meet
grave problems in the Atlantic, Japan
proposes to liquidate as quickly as pos
sible the China incident" This is to be
done first of all by process of strangu-
lation. Chinas difficult and hazardous
access to the outside world is to be closed.
That is the real meaning of Japan's
action against Hong Kong and other
British possessions in the East The inn
mediate japanese demands call for ces-
sation of all shipments to Chang Kai-
shek's government through British
owned Burma and French Indo-C China.
France has already ordered her Ambas-
sador in Toxic to accede to this demand,
having no other alternative. The British
have baked and that is why Hong Kong
Is now menaced.
Once the China incident" is liqui-
dated, the ambition of the japanese will
have no limit. Indo-China, the Dutch
East Indies. Singapore, perhaps even
Australia and New Zealand, perhaps the
Philippines, seem to be ready for the
taking. The only deterrent is the United
State fleet, which in recent months has
been based at Hawaii supposedly to pre-
vent the Japanese grab.
1t appeared to be major reversal of
policy when two weeks ago large part
Of the fleet was reported steaming for the
Atlantic via the Panama Canal This
was widely interpreted as meaning that
the government had abandoned the Pa
ciflc in light of the threat to British rule
in the Atlantic. Then just as suddenly
the fleet moved back to Pearl Harbor and
Admiral Joseph Richardson, commander
in-chief, issued an indignant denial that
the movement of any considerable num-
ber of the vessels of his command was
contemplated
Elaborate Chess Game.
This is, of course, an elaborate chess
game across the broad waters of the
great ocean. To announce the moves in
advance would be a severe handicap
Both the Navy and the State Depart
ment are keeping mum as to what the
next shift of the fleet may be. They are
considerably annoyed at speculation by
editorial writer's and columnists on fu-
ture American policy in the East, insist
ing that all such speculation is made use
of Immediately by Japan.
In this chess game across 5000 miles
of ocean the United States stands to lose
comparatively little. At any rate, i'm
mediate losses would be comparatively
small since the trade with China has
already virtually disappeared. But the
Chinese are threatened with complete
domination by Japan and the destruc-
ton of the last stronghold of their ma
1icte
full Of shocks and surprises this threat
disturbs many Americans who have fol-
lowed with sympathy and admiration
the three-year struggle of Chang Kai-
shek's government.
What are the chances for survival now
that the Japanese are seemingly free of
all Western restraint? The Chinese,